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Weed suppression by Passiflora edulis and its potential allelochemicals
Author(s) -
KHANH T D,
CHUNG I M,
TAWATA S,
XUAN T D
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3180.2006.00512.x
Subject(s) - allelopathy , passiflora , weed , germination , biology , paddy field , bioassay , botany , agronomy , genetics
Summary Passion fruit ( Passiflora edulis ) is grown in the tropics for its edible fruits and for its many ethno‐pharmacologic and pharmacological properties. Our study revealed that the plant contains a strong allelopathic potential. In a bioassay, aqueous extracts of P. edulis strongly suppressed germination and growth of lettuce, radish and two major paddy rice weeds, Echinochloa crusgalli and Monochoria vaginalis . In glasshouse and field experiments, P. edulis also strongly inhibited the growth of paddy rice weeds. Application of 2 t ha −1 dry plant material of P. edulis reduced weed biomass by 70% and increased rice yield by 35% compared with the unweeded control. Ten newly identified substances in P. edulis extracts, including coumarin, long‐chain fatty acids and lactones, may be responsible for the inhibitory activity of P. edulis . Coumarin and the lactones showed greater inhibition of germination and growth of E. crusgalli than the fatty acids. The authors suggest that P. edulis may be used as a natural herbicide to reduce the dependency on synthetic herbicides.