Assessment of contribution of allelospoly and allelopathy to interference of Medicago sativa with Raphanus sativus

Abstract

A simple mathematical model was applied to assess the magnitude of contributions of allelospoly (competition on resources and energy) and allelopathy (secretion of biochemical) to interference against Raphanus sativus by Medicago sativa. The seedling growth of R. sativus (plumule and radicle lengths) are significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by allelochemicals extracted from M. sativa. Competitive interference by M. sativa was eliminated and there were high coefficient of determination (R²) values in dry weight of shoot and root of R. sativus. In other experiment, an equivalent amount of allelopathic effect to that involved in the interference was added, not eliminated. Split-plot designs were used with three replicates. The main-plot factors were three mixtures and the sub-plot factors were: without interference, with interference, and with interference plus allelopathic effects. The reduction in shoot and root dry weight of R. sativus in mixed culture treated with the extract was mainly ascribed to allelopathy. The results suggested that the complex effect of both components of interference (allelopathy and allelospoly) on the protein profile of the recipient species, and confirms the modeling results. Meanwhile, allelospoly exhibited only a physical effect which can be evaluated through the growth parameters.