Allelopathy of Volatiles from Nerium indicum Mill.

Taking the volatiles from Nerium indicum Mill as allelochemicals,the allelopathy of seeds of three plants including Echinochloa crusgalli,Bidens pilosa and Celosia argentea was studied in this paper.The results showed that volatiles released from leaves and stems of Nerium indicum Mill.in an airproof system significantly inhibited the seedling growth of Echinochloa crusgalli,Bidens pilosa and Celosia argentea.Volatile oil obtained from the steam distillation of fresh leaves and stems also significantly inhibited the seedling growth of the three tested weed species.The results indicated that the volatiles from Nerium indicum Mill.had allelopathic potentials against weeds.