Effect of Algicide Based on Metabolites (Allelochemicals) of Aquatic Plants on Seed Germination and the Development of Seedlings of Three Species of Helophytes

Abstract—The effect of a patented alcoholic solution of algicide based on gallic, tetradecanoic, heptane, and octane organic acids on seed germination and the development of seedlings of three species of helophytes, Sparganium emersum, S. glomeratum, and Schoenoplectus lacustris, has been studied for the first time. Significant differences are found in the effect of different algicide concentrations (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/L) on seed germination and the initial stages of seedling development of three species of helophytes. We observe the stimulation of germination of Sparganium emersum seeds at a concentration of 10.0 mg/L and the inhibition of this process in S. glomeratum at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.1 mg/L. No significant effect of algicide on the germination of Schoenoplectus lacustris seeds is found. According to the degree of increase in the resistance of morphological parameters of plants to the effect of different algicide concentrations, seedlings of three species of helophytes are arranged in the following series: Schoenoplectus lacustris > Sparganium glomeratum > S. emersum.