Biological features of Amaranthus blitum L. and A. retroflexus L. invading potato plantings

Abstract

The paper addressed the study of some biological features of two weed species of Amaranthus L. – a widespread species A. retroflexus L. confined to Siberia and a rare species Amaranthus blitum L. Plants of different vital status were found in populations of two species invading potato plantations. The paper reports the morphometric parameters of normally developed and small plants of both species. The features of seed germination and the degree of seedling development were revealed. Laboratory experiments were performed to find out the effect of aqueous extracts of the herb Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pallas on germination and development of seedlings of two Amaranthus species. The root elongation bioassay of Amaranthus blitum seedlings showed a higher phytotoxic effect of the Melilotus officinalis extract compared to Helianthus annuus L. and Helianthus tuberosus L. extracts.

Keywords

• amaranthus blitum l.
• a. retroflexus l.
• weeds
• allelopathy
• bioassay