Allelopathic Effect of Plagiomnium undulatum (Bryopsida) Extracts on Wild Oat Seedling Growth

Weeds compete with crop plants for plant nutrients, light, water and space, causing crop losses. Wild oat (Avena sterilis L.) is a weed that cause high yield loss in cereals. As organic agriculture gained importance, biological control of weeds increased. In this study, extracts of Plagiomnium undulatum, a moss species, were applied to A. sterilis seedlings grown under controlled conditions. Photosynthetic pigment amount, proline concentration, total protein amount and antioxidant enzyme activities were analyzed in developing seedlings. The data of the decrease in chlorophyll and protein amounts, increase in proline concentration and catalase enzyme activity compared to negative controls prove that P. undulatum has an allelopathic effect on wild oats, suggesting that it may be an alternative way for weed control with additional studies