Screening of 239 Paraguayan plant species for allelopathic activity using the sandwich method

Abstract

We evaluated the allelopathic potential of 239 Paraguayan plants using the sandwich method. The samples were collected from 3-different regions of Paraguay. A total of 130 species, 47 families were collected from (i). Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asunción and its surroundings, (ii). 71 species (40 families) from Mbaracayú Natural Reserve and (iii). 38 species (25 families) from the Chaco region. We found the species with high inhibitory potential, such as Cleome aculeata (Cleomaceae), which completely inhibited the germination of lettuce. Others spp. strongly inhibited the growth of lettuce seedlings viz., Strychnos brasiliensis (Loganiaceae), Pterogyne nitens (Fabaceae), Sorocea bonplandii (Moraceae), Rollinia emarginata (Annonaceae), Microstachys hispida (Euphorbiaceae), Prosopis ruscifolia (Fabaceae) and Senna sp. (Fabaceae). These results demonstrated high allelopathic potential of Paraguayan plant species.