The influence of water extract from Apera spica-venti on germination energy and germination capacity of Secale cereale and Triticosecale

Abstract

The influence of water extracts from Apera spica-venti on germination capacity and energy of winter rye and winter triticale was evaluated in the study. The length of the first leaf and the longest primary root was estimated on cereal seedlings after eight days.

The experiment was performed on Petri dishes in two independent series, 5 replications each. Water extracts from dry and fresh matter of above ground parts of Apera spica-venti were used. The extracts were prepared using 2, 4, and 8 g of dry and fresh weed matter per 100 ml of distilled water. Dishes wetted only with distilled water were the control objects. Results were statistically processed by means of variance analysis. Differences between the mean values were estimated applying Tukey’s test. Study results related to germination energy and capacity were transformed onto arcsin x function.

Germination energy and capacity of winter rye and winter triticale decreased along with the increase of the concentration of water extracts from dry and fresh matter of Apera spica-venti. The highest concentration of the tested extracts decreased the germination energy and capacity of both cereal species the strongest. Length of the first leaf and primary root at winter rye and winter triticale were significantly shorter on Petri dishes with higher extract concentration. Water extracts from fresh matter of Apera spica-venti stimulated the length of the first leaf of the studied cereals.