Allelopathic Effects of Saffron Corms on Seed Germination of Several Important Crops

Saffron is an important cash crop in south Khorasan province of Iran. This is a perennial crop with longevity up to 12 years but the stands start to self thinned after 5 or 6 years, therefore after 5-6 years the economic yield start to reduce. The purpose of present investigation was to evaluate the allelopathic effects of saffron corm on seed germination of several important crops. For this purpose aquatic extracts of dried powder of corm (corms from 4 and 14 years stands) was used on different seeds. Treatments were 0 (distilled water), 0.5, 1 and 3 % aquatic extracts of corms. These extracts were used on seeds of important crop species such as barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum sativum), corn (Zea mays), canola (Brassica napus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), and soybean (Glycine max). After ten days, percentage and rate of germination, plumule and radicle length and weight of seedlings were measured. Results indicated allelopathic effects but the magnetitude on each species and different germination criteria was different. Radicle length was more affected than other parameters.

Keywords:

allelopathy , barley , canola , corn , cotton , Crocus sativus , soybean , wheat