Effects of the extract of Dicranopteris linearis on seed germination and seedling growth of selected common weeds in Malaysia

We investigated the allelopathic effects of the extract from Dicranopteris linearis on seed germination and seedling growth of 5 broad-leaved weeds (Asystasia gangetica, Melastoma malabathricum, Ageratum conyzoides, Mimosa pudica and Crassocephalum crepidioides) and 5 grasses (Echinochloa colona, Eleusine indica, Paspalum conjugatum, Dactylocienium aegyptium and Chloris barbata). The extract of D. linearis severely reduced seed germination of all test plant species. Shoot extract of D. linearis was most inhibitory to germinaion of test weed species than root extract. The concentration of shoot extract required to inhibit 50% germination of the test species (150) was 26.62 g/l. Also, the extract drastically suppressed fresh weight and height of the test species. When the test species watered with the extract, shoot extract also exhibited higher allelopathic effects on growth of the species than the root extract. In contrast, growth of the test species was slightly affected, when plants were sprayed test with the extract. The responses of the species were specific to the extract used. The allelopathic effects of the extract of D. linearis on seed germination and growth of the test species were extract concentration dependent.