A rusticidade do milho crioulo pode lhe proteger da influência alelopática de Stachytarpheta cayennensis (LC. Rich.) Vahl.?

Abstract

The importance of allelopathy has long been known as an ecological mechanism of interaction between species, which can affect organisms that interact in certain environments. However, there is a need to deepen the knowledge of how domesticated species lost their ability to adapt to the presence of allelochemicals in their surroundings. This study aimed to compare the germination and initial development of seeds and seedlings of Creole and hybrid maize in the presence of allelochemicals of Stachtarpheta cayennensis. Seeds of both varieties were placed to germinate under moistened substrate with increasing doses of this weed. The germination and the initial development of the seedlings were monitored and it was noticed that, even with the capacity of the hybrid corn to germinate and grow in this condition, the creole variety proved to be more tolerant to the increase in the concentrations of the extract of S. cayennensis.