Abstract
We evaluated the effects of aqueous extracts of H. bacciferum root, leaves and inflorescences on seed germination and seedling growth of maize and faba bean and identified the Allelochemicals using GC-MS. The seed germination of both test plants was inhibited and the lower germination was recorded at the highest extract concentration (75%). Maize was more sensitive to the phytotoxicity of the tested soluble extracts than faba bean. Root extract was more toxic to seed germination followed by leaves and inflorescences extracts. Similar trend was observed for radical and plumule length and seedling dry biomass of both test plants. The maize was more sensitive than faba bean and root extract was the most toxic. In GC-MS analysis, 19-compounds were identified in each H. bacciferum extract and classified into 4-classes (alkaloids, phenols, organic acids and flavonoids). In root extract, the major constituents were phenols (78.13%). While in leaves and inflorescences extracts, alkaloids were more dominant 33.787% and 24.79%, respectively. As a total relative values, roots had the highest 86% content compared to 45% in leaves and inflorescences. This is the first report on the allelochemicals constituents of H. bacciferum.