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PHYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL
OF BARK EXTRACTS OF ACACIA NILOTICA AND SYZYGIUM CUMINI
AGAINST PARTHENIUM HYSTEROPHORUS
KHALID MEHMOOD1,
HAFIZ M. ASIF1, RUKHSANA BAJWA2, SHAZIA
SHAFIQUE2 AND SOBIYA SHAFIQUE2*
Abstract:
Effect of aqueous and
n-hexane bark extracts of allelopathic tree species viz., Acacia
nilotica
and Syzygium cumini
(L.) Skeels was studied on germination and seedling growth of
Parthenium hysterophorus L. In laboratory trials, all the
concentrations of aqueous extract of both the test plants increased seed
germination of target weed while by employing n-hexane concentrations of
A. nilotica the number of germinated seeds remained the same as
in control except 20%. However, among all the concentrations of n-hexane
extract of S. cumini, significantly minimum seed germination
(about 50%) was recorded at 20% concentration. There was a negative
phytotoxic response on weed growth by aqueous extracts of both test
plants. Conversely a pronounced effect on plant growth (shoot and root
length) was exhibited by n-hexane extract of test plants. Similarly, the
biomass was significantly reduced by both aqueous and n-hexane extracts
of both test plants. In pot trials, all the n-hexane concentrations of
test plants invariably suppressed the root and shoot growth of target
weed. There was 30-35%, 20-27%, 50% and 50-55%, 80% and 80-82% reduction
in shoot length, root length and fresh/dry biomass of parthenium by
n-hexane extracts of A. nilotica and S. cumini,
respectively.
1Chemistry
Department, Government Islamia College, Gujranwala
2Institute
of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus,
Lahore, Pakistan
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