Allelopathic effects of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) on seed germination and seedling growth of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

In this study, the n-hexane extracts of the seeds and leafs of industrially grown jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis L.) plant were used. After completing the mandatory pre-conditioning phases, the applications were initiated in order to determine their effects on the germination physiology on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) by diluting the plant extracts by 5, 10 and 15 folds. After day 4, by measuring the germination rate and the length of the radicula and plumula it was determined that the bean was alleopathically increased for the corn by a 10% extract belonging to jojoba leaf while it was revealed that a 15% extract belonging to jojoba seed inhibited the bean. Regarding the wheat seed, while the 15% jojoba seed extract showed germination rates, close to the control levels, 5% jojoba leaf extract inhibits the germination. It was observed that the plant extracts had signifcant effects on the germination of the seeds. As the result, the fact that the extracts of those plants show different allelopathic effects on the germination of the corn and lentil seeds indicates that such extracts may be utilised towards different goals in terms of agricultural, ecologic and physiologic aims.