Allelopathic effects of Trifolium repens and Festuca arundinacea on seedling growth of Brassica chinensis

A study of allelopathic inhibition and its mechanism on seed germination and seedling growth of Brassica chinensis with the treatment of Trifolium repens and Festuca arundinacea extracts was conducted. The (results) indicated that seed germination and seedling growth of B.chinensis were inhibited by application of the extracts, and the inhibition degree was obviously different among the donor species and varieties. Allelopathic inhibition of T.repens on seedling growth of B.chinensis was significantly stronger than that of F.arundinacea. A preliminary analysis of allelochemicals showed that there was plenty of phenolics in the extracts of T.repens and F.arundinacea. Cell growth and function of cell membrane of B.chinensis seedling were both affected by allelochemicals.