Atividade alelopática da Maria Pretinha sobre o milho

Abstract

Weed cause substantial reduction in yields of large crops by competing for light, water, nutrients and space. Allelopathic plant extracts have been used successfully in the management of these plants. Maria pretinha (Solanum americanum) is a weed that has allelopathic effects on other plants. Therefore, the present research aimed to evaluate the possible allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts from the leaves of maria pretinha on the germination and initial growth of maize (Zea mays). The experiments were conducted in the Botany Laboratory located at Cesumar University - UNICESUMAR, in a BOD-type incubation chamber, at 25°C and 12-hours photoperiod, for six days. The raw aqueous extract was obtained through the maceration of the leaves in water and the other concentrations were diluted to reach each specific treatment. The experimental design used was entirely randomized with four repetitions of each treatment. The results were submitted to variance analysis and the means compared by the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. It was observed that the maria pretinha had a negative allelopathic effect on the length of the maize roots, however, it did not affect the germination of this plant.