Evaluation of Allelopathic and Antifungal effects of different concentrations of aqueous leaves and corm extracts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on common purslane and Penicillium fungi

Nowadays, the side effects of using synthetic herbicides and fungicides have been identified as one of the most important environmental challenges in the world. Therefore, the use of natural materials with herbicidal and fungicidal power can be considered as an alternative to synthetic compounds. To evaluate the natural allelopatic and fungicidal properties of aqueous leaves and corm extracts of saffron on seed germination, plant growth of common pursalne, and antifungal effects on Penicillium sp, three separated factorial layout were conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications in Seed Research Laboratory, Research Greenhouse and Plant Disease Laboratory of Birjand University of Agriculture during 2019. Experimental treatments in the lab and greenhouse consisted of two types of saffron tissues (leaves and corm) and six concentrations of aqueous saffron extract (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 4% m/v) and antifungal treatments consisted of two types of saffron organs (leaves and corm) and six concentrations of aqueous extract (0, 0.0078, 0.0312, 0.0625, 0.25, 1, 1.5, 2 and 4% m/v). The traits studied in the first experiment included germination percent, germination rate, root length, dry root weight, and dry shoot weight. In the second experiment traits included emergence percentage, fresh and dry weight of shoot and in the third experiment mycelium growth inhibition of Penicillium sp. The results showed that the extract concentrations and types had a significant effects on germination characteristics including germination percent, germination rate, mean germination time, germination, root length, shoot length, root dry weight and shoot dry weight. However the interaction effect of the type and concentration extracts on germination percent, germination rate seed viability and root length was significant. The mean germination time, root length, shoot and root dry weight were decreased up to 52.4%, 71.4%, 81.7% and 79.2%, compared to control at the highest extract concentration.