Allelopathic potential of Eucalyptus leaf litter leachates on germination and seedling growth of fingermillet

The influence of different concentrations of aqueous leachates of Eucalyptus globulus Labill litter on seed germination, seedling growth and some physiological and biochemical processes of fingermillet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn cv. AKP-2) was studied. Ail the concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20%) of leachate considerably inhibited the seed germination. Longer the duration of pre-soaking of seeds in leachates, greater was inhibition in germination. Increase of pre-soaking time of seeds in leachate as well as increase of leachate concentration, decreased the respiration rate, catalase and alpha-amylase activities but increased the peroxidase activities. The chlorophyll synthesis in leaves as well as protein, carbohydrates and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) contents in both shoot and root of the seedlings were also decreased with increase in leachate concentration.