Allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica on the germination of Solanum lycopersicum

Abstract

Plant extracts are a promising alternative in pest management, but their influence on plant growth s often underestimated. In the present research, the effect of aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. neem) was determined on the germination, length of the radicle and hypocotyls and total fresh mass of ertificated seeds of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pingüino (tomato) under laboratory conditions. Extracts were repared at 5 % m/v of each plant material used (leaves and seeds) and by dilution the concentrations used in he test were: 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 % v/v. Seed sowing was done in Petri plates, on filter paper, istributed in a completely random design with factorial arrangement and four replications by concentration. The germination was stimulated with aqueous extract of A. indica seeds at 0.5 % and inhibited with 2.0 % leaf xtract. The length of the hypocotyl increased in all concentrations compared to the control and the length of he radicle decreased with the increase in the concentration of the extracts, reaching a reduction of more than 0 % compared to the control in concentrations ≥ 1.0 %. The total fresh mass of the seedlings did not ifferences between the concentrations of the extracts and the control. The results showed a differentiated llelopathic effect of A. indica on the germination of S. lycopersicum that could be used in the context of ustainable agriculture, although the evaluation of the extracts in weed species in suggested.