Allelopathy of aqueous extracts from Cyperus species on the germination of Tridax procumbens L.
Wanda W. M. Pimentel, Carlos Luiz da Silva, Andressa C. R. Assunção, José Jailson Lima Bezerra, Luan D. F. de A. Melo
, João L. de A. Melo Junior, Renan Cantalice de Souza, Ticiano G. do Nascimento, Ana P. do N. Prata
Abstract: Many weed species adversely affect agricultural productivity by releasing allelochemicals that inhibit the growth and development of surrounding plants. Members of the Cyperaceae family, in particular, are frequently associated with such allelopathic interference in cultivated areas. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts derived from Cyperus brevifolius and Cyperus sesquiflorus on the germination of Tridax procumbens L. seeds. Plant materials from the donor species were collected and separated into aerial (aboveground) and underground parts. Aqueous extracts were prepared by mixing 1 g of powdered plant material with 10 mL of distilled water, yielding concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. The germination assay was conducted in quadruplicate, with 50 seeds per Petri dish. The treatments were incubated in a B.O.D. chamber under an 8-hour light photoperiod for seven days. Total flavonoid content was quantified using a spectrophotometric method based on a 5% aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) reaction in methanol. The results revealed that aqueous extracts from both Cyperus species significantly inhibited the germination of T. procumbens, with varying degrees of intensity depending on the species and plant part used. Notably, the aerial part extracts of C. sesquiflorus exhibited a stronger allelopathic effect compared to its underground parts, while the opposite trend was observed for C. brevifolius, where underground part extracts were more inhibitory. Furthermore, in both species, extracts from the aerial parts consistently displayed higher total flavonoid content across all tested concentrations. These findings underscore the potential of Cyperus species, particularly their flavonoid-rich aerial parts, as promising natural alternatives for weed management through allelopathic suppression.
Keywords: allelochemicals; bioactivity; Cyperaceae
Citation: Pimentel, W. W. M., da Silva, C. L., Assunção, A. C. R., Bezerra, J. J. L., Melo, L. D. F. de A., Junior, J. L. de A. M., de Souza, R. C., do Nascimento, T. G. & Prata, A. P. do N. (2026). Allelopathy of aqueous extracts from Cyperus species on the germination of Tridax procumbens L. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 32(2), 272–277
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| Date published: 2026-04-29
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