Event Title
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.
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
