Allelopathic effects of weed extracts on germination of wheat

Abstract

Effect of various aqueous extracts of weed plants, Hyptis sauveolens (L.), Ricinus communis (L.), Alternanthera sessilis (L.), Ipomoea carnea (Jacq), Malachra capitata (L.) and Cymbopogon citrutus (Stapf), on seed germination, of Triticum aestivum L. var k9 were studied. Extracts of1%, 2%, 3% & 5% concentrations of weed extracts were prepared. the seeds of Triticum aestivum L. var k9 were germinated in petridishes. Final germination percentage, weight of germinated seeds and their corresponding radicle and coleoptile length was recorded at the end of 7 days along with total chlorophyll and total proteins. Seedling vigor index was calculated (SVI) using the formula percent germination× by average radical length. A control was maintained by watering the seeds with water. Statistical analysis was done to compare the mean values using T Test. There was a significant reduction in all the parameters at high concentrations of the weed extracts in all the plant species under the study. The tolerance level of allelopathic activities of various weed extractsin terms of seed vigor index represented as Cymbopogon strictus>Ipomoea carnea>Hyptis saveolens >Malachracapitata> Ricinus communis> Alternanthera sessilis. All the weed extracts studied had a marked effect on all the parameters studied, suggesting sever allelopathic effects on seed germination of Wheat