Allelopathic effect of pyrogallol on the seed germination of Lolium perenne

Abstract

Many phenolics are known to possess allelopathic activity, but the allelopathic effect of pyrogallol has not been previously reported. Here, the present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of commercially obtained pyrogallol at different concentrations on the seed germination and seedling growth of L. perenne. The results showed that (1) Pyrogallol treatment inhibited L. perenne seed germination, as evidenced by a decrease in the final germination rate and a delay in germination peaks. (2) Pyrogallol treatment reduced L. perenne plumule length, radicle length, fine root length, and fine root surface area, higher pyrogallol concentrations reduced the proportion of fine roots. (3) Higher concentrations (2.00 g/L) of pyrogallol resulted in decreased protein content and increased membrane lipid peroxidation. (4) Spraying pyrogallol inhibited the growth of L. perenne seedlings, as manifested by a decrease in plant height and biomass. Overall, our findings indicate that pyrogallol is one of the allelochemicals present in aqueous extracts of K. integrifoliola leaves that inhibits the seed germination and seedling growth of L. perenne.