Do germination indices adequately reflect allelochemical effects on the germination process?

Abstract

Allelopathy is often demonstrated by testing allelochemical effects on germination using many germination indices to assess them. The objective of this work was to compare four common germination indices (G(T), S, AS, and CRG) previously calculated with the same data in order to discuss their physiological meaning. Each index led to a different interpretation of allelochemical effect on germination. Considering all indices, the S index was the most sensitive, followed by the AS and CRG indices, which provided the same information. The G(T) index, which gave only a global germination interpretation, was not precise enough in describing allelochemical actions during germination. Nevertheless, none of the indices exactly reflected the germination process. Thus, simple comparisons between the control and the test at each exposure time were more appropriate.