The influence of water extracts of selected turfgrass species on germination and initial growth of Poa annua L

Abstract

The effect of Lolium perenne L., Festuca rubra L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Poa pratensis L. and Poa annua L. aqueous extracts on germination rate and total germinability of Poa annua L. seeds and length of Poa annua L. leaves and roots was studied in a laboratory experiment. Germination of seeds was conducted in the growth chamber at the light and temperature regime – day/night – 12/12 hours, 23/15˚C, rh 70 %, for 42 days. Extracts significantly affected the total germinability and germination rate of Poa annua L. seeds (p = 0.000). The lowest germinability (27.3 ± 7. 1 %) and germination rate (0.7 ± 0.2 seeds per day) had Poa annua L. seeds germinated in Poa pratensis L. aqueous extract. Used extracts (except for Festuca rubra L. extract) had significantly inhibitory effect on length of Poa annua L. roots in comparison with control variant. The positive effect of extract from Lolium perenne L. and Festuca rubra L. (not– significant) and the negative effect of extract from Poa pratensis L. and Poa annua l. (significant) were apparent on length of Poa annua L. leaves.

Keywords

• allelopathy
• germinability
• plants height
• roots length