Allelopathic potential of Sorghum bicolor L. Root Exudates on Growth and Chlorophyll Content of Wheat and Some Grassy Weeds

Abstract

Sorghum bicolor produces root exudate contain allelochemical compound known as sorgoleon. A greenhouse experiment was carried out at Grdarasha farm/Agricultural Engineering Sciences College/Salahaddin University- Erbil to evaluate the allelopathic effects of root exudates of Sorghum bicolor on some growth parameters and chlorophyll content of Triticum aestivum L., Triticum durum Desf., Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch., Avena fatua L. and Phalaris minor Retz. in a modified stair step tool to eliminate any competition interaction between the donor and receiver plants by factorial completely randomized design (Factorial C.R.D) with three replicates. The results indicated that Phalaris minor Desf. was the most sensitive species among all test plants for instance its total length and dry weight were (41.68 cm, 294.87 mg), also its chlorophyll content recorded minimum value were (31.65, 36.85, 36.08, 37.68) for all time intervals, comparing to the chlorophyll content of other plant species. Furthermore, all recorded parameters of other plant species were affected significantly by root exudate of Sorghum bicolor. Finally, root exudates of Sorghum bicolor L. may act as a bioherbicide to control grassy weeds in wheat fields.