Allelopathic Effects of Prunus cerasoides Buch.-Ham ex. D. Don Leaves on Common Weeds in Forest Restoration Sites  

ABSTRACT: Weeding by hand tools is the most expensive part of forest restoration projects, so herbicides are an attractive alternative weeding technique. However, synthetic herbicides may have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Prunus cerasoides Buch.-Ham. Ex D.Don produces allelochemicals, which may enable trees to compete with herbaceous weeds such as Chromoleana odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. and Bidens pilosa L. Consequently, it may be possible to develop more environment-friendly “bio”-herbicides from P. cerasoides allelochemicals. This project investigated the inhibitory potential of aqueous leaf extract (ALE) from P. cerasoides leaves on seed germination and seedling growth of C. odorata and B. pilosa - two abundant weeds of forest restoration sites. ALE at various concentrations (0.75-5.00 wt%) was applied to weed seeds to test the intensity and duration of its inhibitory effect on germination. ALE at 0.75 and 1.25 wt% significantly inhibited germination of C. odorata and B. pilosa, respectively (P≤0.05), with the degree of inhibition increasing with increasing concentration. It also delayed germination for a few days (1-4 days). ALE had no significant substantial inhibitory effect on seedling survival and biomass per plant, irrespective of development stage. Consequently, P. cerasoides ALE should be further investigated as a pre-emergent herbicide. It is unlikely to be useful as a general weed killer on forest restoration sites.

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