2017/12/18 by Dorina Bonea, Elena Bonciu, Mariana Niculescu +2 · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Allelopathy and phytotoxic interactions #Insect Pest Control Strategies #Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
paper · doi:10.1080/00087114.2017.1400263
crossref issued 2017/12/18 · crossref published 2017/12/18 · crossref published-online 2017/12/18 · openalex publication_date 2017/12/18 · crossref created 2017/12/18 · crossref published-print 2018/01/02 · crossref deposited 2021/06/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The problem of the invasion of the invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is particularly important for Romania and other countries. Besides the fact that this species is a strong allergen, its presence in agricultural crops can aggravate the growth and development of plants, just like other weeds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the allelopathic effect of different concentrations of aqueous extracts obtained from the above-ground part (leaves and stems) and from the underground part (roots) of Ambrosia artemisiifolia on the germination and growth of Zea mays. Furthermore, for the first time, we have conducted a study of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of these extracts in meristematic cells of Zea mays. All extracts, and in particular 10% above-ground extract, significantly reduced the germination of the seeds and had a different effect on the growth of maize seedlings. Also, these extracts reduced the mitotic index (MI) and induced chromosomal alterations such as multinucleated cells, C-metaphases and sticky, ring, fragment, and bridge-type chromosomes, thus revealing a strong cytotoxic and genotoxic effect on maize.