Sains Malaysiana 45(4)(2016): 517–521

Allelopathic Potential of the Leaf and Seed of Pueraria javanica Benth. on the Germination and Growth of Three Selected Weed Species

(Potensi Alelopati Daun dan Benih Pueraria javanica Benth. ke atas Percambahan dan Tumbesaran Tiga Spesies Rumpai)

ISMAIL B. S.*, SYAMIMI HALIMSHAH, WAN JULIANA W.A. & NORNASUHA YUSOFF

School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 23 June 2015/Accepted: 2 October 2015

ABSTRACT

Pueraria javanica Benth. is one of the most common leguminous cover crop used in oil palm plantations of Malaysia. A study was conducted to determine the allelopathic potential of this plant, using the aqueous extract, sandwich and dish-pack methods, with the seed and leaf (of P. javanica) on three bioassay weed species namely, Eleusine indica, Cyperus iria and Chromolaena odorata. The aqueous extract experiment was conducted using 0 (control), 16.7, 33.3 and 66.7 g/L of the aqueous leaf and seed extracts while the sandwich method was carried out using 10 and 50 mg of each of the donour plant parts. Meanwhile, the dish-pack method was done using four different distances (41, 58, 82 and 92 mm) away from the donour plant. All experiments were replicated five times using the complete randomized design (CRD). The leaf extract exhibited 100% reduction on the fresh weight of E. indica and C. odorata while the seed extract exhibited 100% reduction on all parameters for E. indica and on the fresh weight of  C. iria at 66.7 g/L concentration. The seed and leaf at 10 and 50 mg significantly reduced the radicle length of all the bioassay species. The dish-pack experiment also showed a reduction effect on the germination percentage and seedling growth parameters of all the bioassay species. However, the reduction effect was not totally in accordance to the distance from the donor species. More studies need to be conducted to determine the type of reduction mechanism involved in the allelopathic activity especially with respect to molecular and biochemical aspects.

Keywords: Allelopathy; aqueous extract; dish-pack method; Pueraria javanica; sandwich method

ABSTRAK

Pueraria javanica Benth. merupakan salah satu tumbuhan penutup bumi yang popular dan banyak digunakan di dalam ladang kelapa sawit di Malaysia. Suatu kajian telah dijalankan untuk menentukan potensi alelopati biji benih dan daun P. javanica terhadap tiga spesies bioasai rumpai iaitu Eleusine indica, Cyperus iria dan Chromolaena odorata melalui kaedah ekstrak akuas bertindih dan kotak petri. Eksperimen ekstrak akuas dijalankan dengan menggunakan tiga kepekatan ekstrak biji benih dan daun iaitu 16.7, 33.3 dan 66.7 g/L, manakala eksperimen bertindih menggunakan 10 dan 50 mg daripada setiap bahagian. Sementara itu, eksperimen kotak petri menggunakan empat jarak yang berbeza (41, 58, 82 dan 92 mm) daripada tumbuhan penderma. Semua eksperimen dilakukan sebanyak lima replikasi dengan menggunakan reka bentuk rawak lengkap. Ekstrak daun telah menunjukkan pengurangan sebanyak 100% terhadap berat basah E. indica dan C. odorata, manakala ekstrak biji benih pula menunjukkan 100% pengurangan terhadap semua parameter E. indica dan berat basah C. iria pada kepekatan 66.7 g/L. Biji benih dan daun pada kedua-dua timbangan telah mengurangkan panjang radikel semua spesies bioasai secara signifikan. Eksperimen kotak petri juga menunjukkan kesan pengurangan terhadap peratus percambahan dan semua parameter pertumbuhan anak benih spesies bioasai. Walau bagaimanapun, kesan pengurangan tersebut tidak selari dengan jarak daripada spesies penderma. Lebih banyak kajian perlu dijalankan untuk menentukan jenis mekanisme pengurangan yang terlibat dalam aktiviti alelopati terutamanya daripada aspek molekul dan biokimia.

Kata kunci: Alelopati; ekstrak akuos; kaedah bertindih; kaedah kotak petri; Pueraria javanica

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*Corresponding author; email: ismail@ukm.edu.my