Effect of Juglone on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Four Common Vegetables

Abstract

In this study, effect of juglone on seed germination and post-germinative seedling growth of four common vegetables (aubergine, pepper, zucchini and gherkin) has been investigated. Juglone treatments were applied at 0 (control), 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM concentrations. Seed germination of aubergine and pepper was significantly inhibited by juglone but in the case of zucchini and gherkin, juglone didn’t change the germination of the seeds. However, both root and shoot elongation and dry weights of the seedlings of all the species studied were significantly decreased by juglone above 0.01 mM concentrations with respect to control. The sensitivity range of the species to juglone was determined as aubergine, pepper, zucchini and gherkin. That is, the most sensitive species to juglone was found aubergine that juglone inhibited its seedling growth at even 0.001 mM concentration.