Allelopathic Effects of Amaranthus

AUelopathic effects of Amarnntluis spinosia: on normal and forcedly aged seeds were established from some reliable physiological and biochemical parameters. Leaf extract and leachate of Amaranthus strongly reduced the percentage and speed of germination in both acceleratedly aged and non-aged seeds. While sugar and amino acid levels were rapidly increased in the leachate of seeds pretreated with leaf extract and leachate, protein and RNA levels and catalase and dehydrogenase activities were significantly reduced. Inhibitory action was much more prominent in aged .seed samples than nonaged ones. The present paper thus discusses this differential allelopathic action at normal and stressful (accelerated ageing) conditions.