The allelopathic effect of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) leaf on some morphological and biochemical characteristics of monocot and dicot crops and weeds

An experiment trial run to determine the allelopathic effects of apricot leaves on corn, bean, rye and pigweed. This experiment was done with apricot aqueous leaf extract (75% w/v) and leaf powder (3% w/w) treatments and control (without any treats with leaf extract and powder and irrigated with distilled water) during seedling stage. This experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment in complete randomized design with 3 replicates. According to the results, the lowest and the highest loss percentage of shoot and root dry weight, and stem and root length was observed in corn and pigweed under the treats of apricot leaf extract and powder. Electrolyte leakage increased significantly in bean under leaf extract and powder treats and in rye treated with extract compared to control. Both treats of apricot leaf decreased the content of chlorophyll a and b in bean and pigweed, although these pigments increased in corn and rye under mentioned treatments. Increased soluble sugars of bean and corn under leaf aqueous extract and powder and of rye and pigweed under leaf aqueous extract were significantly more than control. However, treatment with aqueous extract increased proline content in all studied plants, but the content of this amino acid increased only in the bean treated with apricot extract powder. A little changes of superoxide dismutase activity were not significant in corn, bean, rye and pigweed treated with aqueous extract and powder compared to the control.