Poster: Ecophysiology

Abs # 50: Allelopathic and herbicidal potential of Acacia leucopholea.

Presenter:	Jayakumar, M. , jayakuma_99@yahoo.com
Authors	Jayakumar, M.  (A)   Manikandan, M.  (B)
Affiliations:	(A): Research Dept. of Botany, VNHSN College (B): Dept. of Biotechnology, Sri Nandhanam College of Engrg. & Technology

The aqueous leaf extracts of Acacia leucopholea showed inhibitory effects on seed germination, shoot length, root length and biomass of weeds viz., Ipomoea pentaphylla, Crotalaria retusa, Cassia occidentalis. The inhibitory effect of these weeds is directly proportional to the increasing concentration (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) of aqueous leaf extracts of Acacia leucopholea. The post emergence treatment showed wilting symptoms in all the weed seedlings, but 90% mortality was observed in C.occidentalis at 20% concentration. Among the three weeds, C.occidentalis seedlings were sensitive to the aqueous leaf extracts of Acacia leucopholea. Different phenolic acids viz., hydroquinone, salicylic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, gentisic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, p- coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid were identified by GC. Different functional groups of tannins were identified by IR spectrophotometer. These results revealed that the inhibitory effect might be due to the presence of these allelochemics in the Acacia leucopholea trees.