Evaluation in soil of the activity of promising weedicide sources

Abstract

In a previous screening of a number of Mediterranean shrubs and trees Cistus ladanifer and Lavandula stoechas were selected as promising weedicide sources. As a second step, water extracts of fresh leaves of the selected species were again evaluated, but now in soil, for their activity on germination and early growth of Triticum aestivum and Phalaris minor. Shoot length, number of leaves, shoot and root biomass were examined. In general, both donors reduced the growth of the receiver species, and stimulated the germination of the crop. Unlike before, C. ladanifer also stimulated the germination of the weed and in some cases increased the the relative advantage of the weed. With L. stoechas whenever the same characteristic was reduced, P. minor was always more reduced than T. aestivum. In addition, L. stoechas always decreased the relative advantage of the weed. Therefore, L. stoechas may continue to be viewed as a promising source of weedicides while C. ladanifer should be abandoned.