Allelopathic Potential of White, Red and Black Rice Cultivars

The inhibitory effect (allelopathic potential) of shoot, seed and root extracts of 8 white, 5 red and 5 black rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars was determined against the seedling growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and white clover (Trifolium rep ens L.). All extracts inhibited hypocotyl and root growth of lettuce and white clover seedlings, and those inhibitory activities ranged from -1% -96%. The average inhibitory activity of the extracts on the hypocotyl and root growth of lettuce and white clover was 42 - 88%. No apparent difference in the inhibitory activity was found either among the extracts of white, red and black rice, or among the extracts of shoots, seeds and roots. However, the red rice cultivar Tsushima-akamai marked the greatest inhibitory activity with an average of 88% growth inhibition on hypocotyls and roots of lettuce and white clover, followed by Souja-akamai and Koshihikari. These results suggest two red rice, Tsushima-akamai and Souja-akamai, may be potentially useful for weed management in agriculture.