Inhibitory Effects of the Alcoholic Extract of the Aerial Parts of Bitter Apple (Citrullus colocynthis L.) on Seed Germination and Growth Characteristics of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Investigation of the allelopathic properties of plants is one of the emerging ecological and biological approaches that may contribute to the discovery of bioherbicides and growth inhibitors. The present study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of the alcoholic extract of Citrullus colocynthis on seed germination and seedling growth of basil (Ocimum basilicum). Alcoholic extracts of different organs of C. colocynthis, including the root, stem, and leaf, were applied at concentrations of ۰% (distilled water), ۰.۲۵, ۰.۵, ۰.۷۵, and ۱% in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The results showed that extracts of C. colocynthis organs had negative effects on seed germination and seedling growth of basil, such that increasing the concentration of the alcoholic extract significantly reduced germination and seedling growth. Extracts obtained from different organs of C. colocynthis exhibited different inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth, with the ۰.۷۵ and ۱% concentrations showing the strongest inhibitory effects. Overall, alcoholic extracts of different organs of C. colocynthis exerted inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth of basil

کلیدواژه ها:

Allelopathy ، Germination ، Citrullus colocynthis ، basil