Effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Artemisia frigida on germination and growth of four plant types.

In order to make clear the allelopathy of the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) from Artemisia frigida,we investigated seed germination and seedling growth of Paphanus sativus,Phaseolus radiatus,Cucumis sativus and Medicago sativa under the VOCs from undamaged and damaged A.frigida using the bioassay.Results showed that the VOCs from undamaged A.frigida were found to be inhibitory(P0.01) to the germination percentage of P.sativus and Ph.radiatus,with inhibition rates of 45.8%,and 30.0%,respectively.The inhibition of bud dry mass by the VOCs from undamaged A.frigida was significant(P 0.01),with rates of inhibition of 26.4%,for Ph.radiatus.However,the inhibition of root dry mass by VOCs was very significant(P0.01),with rates of inhibition of 67.9%,69.4%,51.1%,and 48.7%,respectively,for the four species.In addition,the inhibition of the VOCs from damaged A.frigida was stronger than the undamaged.These results indicated that VOCs from A.frigida had a strong allelopathic affect on seed germination and seedling growth.