Abstract ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) production is a usual plant reaction to environmental stresses such as allelopathy. Plants possess antioxidant enzymes to scavenge cells and resist against the ROS. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPX, APX) in radish seedlings in response to allelopathic effect of safflower root and shoot residues grown under normal irrigation and drought stress. Safflower allelopathic effect led to an increase in antioxidant enzymes activities. GPX activity increased more than CAT and APX. Radish seedlings exposed to safflower residue grown under drought stress showed more antioxidant enzymes activities. Root residues enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes greater than shoot. Seedlings exposed to root residues grown under drought stress had the highest level of antioxidant enzymes activities. Reactive Species allelopathy CAT, (CAT APX

Abstract Background: Allelopathic plants like safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) can be considered as natural herbicides for weeds management in field. But there is not enough research on safflower genotypes allelopathy potential. Objective: So in this study, allelopathic effect of the four safflower genotypes on weeds (Amaranthussp., Hordeum spontaneum), crops (Sesamum indicum, Triticum aestivum) and on autotoxicity of Carthamus tinctorius was evaluated in bioassay using sandwich method. The results can be used in the management of weeds in safflower fields and also in the rotation with other crops. Methods: Two genotypes with high allelopathic potential and two genotypes with low allelopathic potential were selected from forty genotypes of safflower. Growth traits including radicle length, hypocotyl length, shoot length, fresh biomass weight and germination percentages were measured. Results: Results showed that Amaranthussp. and C. tinctorius displayed the most and least susceptibility to safflower residues, respectively. Khorasan (Khorasan330) and Egypt (PI657800) had the greatest with Kerman (CTNIR9) and Australia (PI 262424) had the least inhibitory effects on target plants. PI 262424 stimulated hypocotyl growth by 51%, 18% and 7% in H. spontaneum, T. aestivum and C. tinctorius, respectively. CTNIR9 enhanced this trait by 16% in T. aestivum and 10% in C. tinctorius. In large-seeded species (H. spontaneum, T. aestivum and C. tinctorius, Kerman (CTNIR9) and Australia (PI 262424) stimulated seedling growth. Conclusion: It can be concluded that effectiveness of allelopathic residues of safflower on target plants depended on the seed size of target plant with smaller seed size (Amaranthussp.) were more susceptible to allelopathic residues than those with larger ones. In addition radicle length was affected more than other growth traits by safflower residues.

Abstract Background: Salvia officinalis a medicinal plant which is severely affected by weeds competition. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the growth and physiological responses of S. officinalis to some light-dependent herbicides. Methods: A factorial experiment was conducted to determine the effects of oxadiargyl (T), bentazon (B), oxyfluorfen (O), metribuzin (M), phenmedipham+desmedipham (P) at 0.75 (1), 1 (2) and 1.25 (3) rates on growth and physiological parameters of S. officinalis. Results: All herbicides initially caused visual injury to S. officinalis. SPAD values were decreased by all herbicide treatments except for low rate of phenmedipham+desmedipham and oxadiargyl. The relative leaf water content (RLWC) decreased following herbicide treatments except in P1, P2, B1, and B2. Membrane stability index decreased by herbicide treatments however there were no differences among control and P1, P2, B1, B2, O1, O3, M3, T1, T2, and T3. All rates of oxyfluorfen and oxadiargyl, P1, B1 and B2 had no marked effect on the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm). Plant growth was not affected by herbicide treatments probably due to the recovery of the plants at the end of the experiment excepting for metribuzin. Essential oil content increased as the herbicide rate increased based on herbicide type. Conclusions: The results showed that S. officinalis had the ability to recover over time depending on the herbicide type and rate. Results showed that phenmedipham+desmedipham and bentazon are suitable and metribuzin unsuitable herbicides for weeds selective control in S. officinalis.