Effect of Endogenous Coumarin on the Germination of Seeds ofCoumarouna odortaAublet

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Abstract
Seeds of Coumarouna germinate readily at 33°C in darkness or light in spite of high levels of endogenous coumarin. The concentration of coumarin on a dry-weight basis remained constant in the cotyledons and increased in the embryos during germination. Applied coumarin (0.4 and 4 mM) did not inhibit germination of Coumarouna but enhanced the growth of embryos; yet a single seed of Coumarouna, placed at the centre of a Petri-dish, drastically inhibited germination of other neighbouring seeds (lettuce, radish, and tomato). The presence of coumarin in the soil of potted seedlings suggest that coumarin exuded by the radicle can inhibit germination and growth of other species in its vicinity, thus eliminating competition during the first stages of growth.

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