Assessment of the Physiological and Biochemical Effects of Phragmites australis L. Aqueous Extracts from Juliana Lake on the Germination, Growth, and Metabolic Activities of Triticum aestivum L.

الملخص

This study investigates the physiological and biochemical effects of aqueous extracts from Phragmites australis. P. australis was chosen for its ecological and economic value, providing habitat, stabilising soil, filtering pollutants, and thriving under extreme conditions.  Its impact on other plants in saline environments aids in managing resource competition. Due to its importance, samples of leaves and stems were collected from Libya's Juliana Lake in Benghazi in April 2024, a key site with coastal salt marshes that support salt-tolerant organisms and protect against coastal erosion. To study the effect of this invasive plant, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), an adaptable and significant cereal crop in Libya, was used. The findings revealed that higher concentrations of leaf extract had a stronger inhibitory effect on wheat germination compared to stem extracts. The study also examined the impact of these extracts on seedling growth, where lower concentrations of stem extract increased seedling length, while higher concentrations reduced it. Fresh weight varied depending on the extract concentrations, and higher concentrations significantly reduced protein synthesis compared to the control group's levels. These findings suggest potential applications for Phragmites australis extracts as natural herbicides at higher concentrations to prevent weed growth, while lower concentrations might stimulate germination and growth under controlled conditions. The dual role of these extracts highlights their complexity and practical utility in ecological management and agricultural practices within saline wetland environments.