Allelopathic Effect of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. Essential Oil on Seed Germination of Agropyron desertorum and Agropyron cristatum

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate allelopathic effect of the essential oil of <em>Artemisia herba-alba </em>Asso., on seed germination characteristics of<em> Agropyron desertorum </em>and<em> Agropyron cristatum</em> in a laboratory experiment. Essential oil was extracted from the aerial parts of <em>Artemisia herba-alba </em>using a Clevenger-Type apparatus. The volatile chemical compositions of <em>Artemesia herba-alba</em> were determined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The crude essential oil was diluted with ethanol to a final concentration of 100 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm and 2000 ppm. Seed germination test was carried out on filter paper moistened with 5 ml of different dilutions of essential oil or distilled water as control. The results showed that increase in essential oil concentration reduced root lengths, seed germination percentage and vigor index of <em>Agropyron desertorum</em>and<em> Agropyron cristatum<strong>.</strong> </em>