Allelopathic effects of leachates of Juglans regia L., Populus tremula L. and juglone on germination of temperate zone cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants

The environmental benefits of agroforestry systems are well known. However, current knowledge of potential allelopathic interactions is inadequate. The decrease in soil fertility, the increasingly rhapsodic distribution of precipitation, and the special metabolism and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants are all harbingers of medicinal-agroforestry systems. The authors aimed to discover the allelopathic effects of Juglans regia L. and Populus tremula L. on germination of medicinal and aromatic plants cultivated in a temperate zone. Accordingly, an in vitro germination trial was conducted with leachates of these trees and two juglone concentrations. These allelopathic effects were evaluated for germination vigour, germination rate, and total fresh weight of seedlings of twelve different species. A pronounced species specificity was observed in tolerance of seeds and seedlings to the allelopathic effect of Populus and Juglans. In four of the species studied, the allelopathic effect may inhibit germination, but only initially. Poppy and angelica proved to be the most sensitive to the treatments. The following species had relative tolerance to the allelochemicals, so further research under natural conditions is suggested for: Althea officinalis L. (9.34 +/- 5.04-68.66 +/- 13.62 GR%), Anethum graveolens L. (12.00 +/- 2.00-100.00 +/- 6.12 GR%), Cannabis sativa L. (72.66 +/- 9.02-91.34 +/- 1.16 GR%), Dracocephalum moldavica L. (38.00 +/- 2.00-80.00 +/- 17.44 GR%), Linum usitatissimum L. (44.66 +/- 2.00-58.00 +/- 3.46 GR%), and Satureja hortensis L. (52.00 +/- 28.22-82.00 +/- 8.00 GR%). The aim would be to introduce them into agroforestry systems.

Automated summary

The study revealed allelopathic effects of Juglans regia L. and Populus tremula L. on germination of medicinal and aromatic plants, with different species showing specific tolerance to these effects. It suggested further research on introducing certain species into agroforestry systems due to their relative tolerance to the allelochemicals.