The Effect of Nutrient Levels on the Allelopathic Ability of Reed Canary Grass {Phalaris arundinacea) on Lettuce

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

28-4-2009 10:00 AM

End Date

28-4-2009 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Beth Proctor

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Reed Canary Grass {Phalaris arundinacea) (RC) is an invasive species in southern Minnesota. Allelopathy occurs when one species of plants is inhibited by another through the release of toxic chemicals called allelochemicals. Methanol extracts of RC grown with another wetland plant reduce the germination of lettuce seeds (Proctor). The objective of this study was to determine if methanol extracts of RC grown alone in different levels of nutrients would also reduce the germination of lettuce seeds. We hypothesized that higher levels of allelochemicals would be found in the roots of RC grown under lower nutrient levels than in the roots grown under higher nutrient levels. RC was germinated in the greenhouse and transplanted to individual containers in October 2008. Twenty containers of RC had 0.15 mg Nitrogen (15%N-5%P-15%K) added weekly and another twenty containers had 0.015 mg of Nitrogen added weekly for 3 months. The plants were harvested and different amounts of the RC roots were extracted with methanol. Each methanol extract was placed in a Petri dish containing a filter paper. The methanol was allowed to completely evaporate. Then 10 lettuce seeds and 10 ml of water were added to each dish. The dishes were incubated at 22-25°C under a 14hours light/10 hours dark cycle. At the end of 7*^ day the numbers of seeds that did and did not germinated were counted. All treatments were run in triplicate. Controls were also run. I will present the results of these experiments.

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Apr 28th, 10:00 AM Apr 28th, 12:00 PM

The Effect of Nutrient Levels on the Allelopathic Ability of Reed Canary Grass {Phalaris arundinacea) on Lettuce

CSU Ballroom

Reed Canary Grass {Phalaris arundinacea) (RC) is an invasive species in southern Minnesota. Allelopathy occurs when one species of plants is inhibited by another through the release of toxic chemicals called allelochemicals. Methanol extracts of RC grown with another wetland plant reduce the germination of lettuce seeds (Proctor). The objective of this study was to determine if methanol extracts of RC grown alone in different levels of nutrients would also reduce the germination of lettuce seeds. We hypothesized that higher levels of allelochemicals would be found in the roots of RC grown under lower nutrient levels than in the roots grown under higher nutrient levels. RC was germinated in the greenhouse and transplanted to individual containers in October 2008. Twenty containers of RC had 0.15 mg Nitrogen (15%N-5%P-15%K) added weekly and another twenty containers had 0.015 mg of Nitrogen added weekly for 3 months. The plants were harvested and different amounts of the RC roots were extracted with methanol. Each methanol extract was placed in a Petri dish containing a filter paper. The methanol was allowed to completely evaporate. Then 10 lettuce seeds and 10 ml of water were added to each dish. The dishes were incubated at 22-25°C under a 14hours light/10 hours dark cycle. At the end of 7*^ day the numbers of seeds that did and did not germinated were counted. All treatments were run in triplicate. Controls were also run. I will present the results of these experiments.

Recommended Citation

Pradhan, Selina. "The Effect of Nutrient Levels on the Allelopathic Ability of Reed Canary Grass {Phalaris arundinacea) on Lettuce." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 28, 2009.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2009/poster-session-C/9