Effects of tree species on seed germination and seedlings growth of Chinese medicinal herb Gentiana rigescens

Authors Zhang, J.; Zhang, J. Y.; Wang, Y. Z.; Yang, S. B.; Yang, M. Q.; Jin, H.

Journal ALLELOPATHY JOURNAL , APR 2012,2:29

Abstract Allelopathic effects of 4-tree species [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Ktze, Eucalyptus robusta Smith, Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne, Alnus nepalensis D. Don] were studied on Chinese medicinal plant, Gentiana rigescens Franch. ex Hemsl.. The leaf or root aqueous extracts of all tree species reduced the germination, plumule and radicle growth of G. rigescens, but the effects were variable. The highest seed germination rate was with leaf extracts (10.0%) of Camellia sinensis. Contrarily the seeds did not germinate in leaf extracts of Eucalyptus robusta and Alnus nepalensis. The longest plumule length (3.37 mm) was in leaf extracts of Camellia sinensis. Hence G. rigescens may be grown as intercrop in tea (Camellia sinensis) plantation.

Species covered 桉 Eucalyptus robusta 旱冬瓜 Alnus nepalensis 茶 Camellia sinensis 滇龙胆草 Gentiana rigescens 木瓜 Chaenomeles sinensis