Allelopathy of Mucuna sempervirens on Ground Cover Plant Arachis duranensis

PurposeTo study the allelopathy of Mucuna sempervirens on ground cover plant Arachis duranensis, which planted in the same area.

MethodIn vitro stem nodes and leaves of A. duranensis were treated by different mass fraction (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%) of aquatic extract of M. sempervirens leaves. The number and length of adventitious roots on the nodes, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), the content of H₂O₂ and malonaldehyde (MDA), and membrane permeability were determined.

ResultsWith the increase of mass fraction of the leaf aquatic extract, the number and length of adventitious root, and the activities of SOD, CAT and POD decreased (P>0.05 or P<0.05), and the allelopathic index was less than zero; the content of H₂O₂ and MDA and membrane permeability increased (P>0.05 or P<0.05), and the allelopathic index was greater than zero.

ConclusionM. sempervirens has strong allelopathy (inhibition) on A. duranensis growth.