Study of Allelopathic Effects of Argemone mexicana L. Root Extract on Seed Germination and Growth of Triticum aestivum L. under in vitro Condition

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Nagpur, to investigate the allelopathic effects of Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L.) on wheat. Wheat is the most important edible cereal crop. Wheat can grow in a wide variety of soils and temperatures, but thrives in humid regions with 30-90 cm of precipitation. Argemone mexicana L. is a rapidly expanding weed and an important competitor of wheat (in terms of allelochemicals). Weed is one of major cause of crop production loss. The entire plants of Argemone mexicana L. were harvested, rinse with tap water to remove soil debris, roots are dried in shade which kept at 25 degrees celcius (±2) for 72 hours. To demonstrate the germination of seeds of two locally grown wheat varieties (Sharabati and Lokwan), five concentrations of different ratios of root aqueous extract were obtained. A bioassay of a petri dish was carried out to assess the allelopathic potential of Argemone mexicana L. on the germination of Triticum aestivum L. seeds. The water based root extracts of weeds were used for treatment. The differential inhibitory effect of Argemone mexicana L. on Sharbati and Lokwan variety of wheat was observed.