Comportamento inicial de Zea mays L. Sob ação do extrato aquoso de Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.

Abstract

The Northeast region of Brazil, characterized by semi-arid conditions, relies heavily on agriculture and livestock farming as major sources of income. This has driven the adoption of adapted exotic species, such as Prosopis juliflora, popularly known as Algaroba, to cope with drought effects. Although well adapted to the semi-arid climate, P. juliflora exhibits invasive behavior and allelopathic potential, negatively affecting native species and posing a risk to croplands where it is found. This study aimed to evaluate the effects on seedling emergence, initial growth, and photosynthetic pigment contents in Zea mays (variety AG 1051) under the influence of aqueous leaf extracts of P. juliflora. The extract was prepared from Algaroba leaves, and the experiment followed a completely randomized design, with two treatments (control – distilled water, and 25% extract), comprising 12 biological replicates per treatment and 5 seedlings per replicate. Germinative variables, initial seedling growth, and pigment contents were evaluated. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that the aqueous extract of Algaroba leaves significantly reduced all evaluated parameters, except for chlorophyll b content, confirming findings from previous studies. It is concluded that the 25% P. juliflora extract negatively affects seedling emergence, early development, and photosynthetic pigment content in maize seedlings, indicating a phytotoxic effect. Therefore, the presence of this species in agricultural areas may compromise maize cultivation, emphasizing the need for proper management strategies.