The effect of hydrophilic gel from the second layer of Tingui (Magonia pubescens St. Hil.) seeds on germination and early development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

Some plant species from Cerrado were considered to have allelopathic effects. Allelopathy means the chemical competitionbetween plants wich can benefit or harm another plant. The objective of this study was to determine the effect ofhydrophilic gel from the second layer of Magonia pubescens St. Hil. seeds (a high plant, known as Tingui, that grows inthe areas of Cerrado) on germination and early development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The cucumber seeds weretreated with a mixture of sand and powder of Tingui in different proportions of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The sand waspreviously washed with tap water, then with distilled water and, after that, it was dried in an oven at 100 ºC for 5 hours.The seeds were planted in 50 ml polystyerenes cups and moistened with water daily. To check possible changes from theprocess, a batch of seed were tested under the same conditions without the Tingui powder (only with sand). The parametersof this study were to measure the seed germination and plant development. The growth period was seven days, under± 30 ºC, and 12 hours photoperiod. The overall data were analyzed using ANOVA and Scheffe test, at 5% significancelevel. From the results, we concluded that there were no differences in the percentage of seed germination for all treatments,except the treatment of 100%. As for the germination average time and the seed growth, there were no significantdifferences between the treatment of 25% and the control, but the effects were more effective at higher concentrations.