Allelopathic Influences of Artemisia Dubia Wall. Ex. Besser on Seed Germination of Parthenium Hysterophorus L.
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Botany
Abstract
Screening plant produced phytotoxins (allelochemicals) through bioassay is an accepted
strategic tool employed for the discovery of potential pesticides for weed management. The
present laboratory based study was undertaken to serve the purpose of preliminary screening
of phytotoxicity of Artemisia dubia against an invasive composite Parthenium hysterophorus.
Allelopathic effect of aqueous (leachate and decomposed) extract, solvent extract (hexane,
chloroform, methanol and water), soil amended extract with leaf, stem and root and essential
oil of donor plant Artemisia dubia was studied on germination and seedling vigour of
Parthenium hysterophorus. Extraction and quantification of different parts in different solvent
was done by percolation method while hydro distillation method was followed for essential
oil extraction. Bioassay was done by allowing P. hysterophorus seed to germinate in petri
dishes (for solvent, aqueous and essential oil) and disposable plastic plates (for plant parts
amended soil) in laboratory condition against varied concentrations of prepared extracts of
Artemisia dubia.
Yield of crude extract (solvent and aqueous) was high for leaf compared to stem and root. All
the tested extract (aqueous, solvent, essential oil and soil amended with plant parts) from
different plant parts significantly checked the germination of Parthenium hysterophorus in
higher concentration with the effect being more pronounced due to leaf of Artemisia dubia.
Linear growth of root and shoot also followed the same pattern. The order of allelopathic
influence was leaf > stem > root in all the cases and it was concentration dependent. Length of
root was retarded while stem length experienced no effect, sometime elongation (stem and
root extract of leachate, stem extract of hexane and chloroform) and sometime retardation
(aqueous decomposed extract of leaf, leaf amended soil and essential oil). Aqueous
decomposed leaf extract, soil amended with leaf parts and essential oil were found to be most
inhibitory.
These results provide ample evidence that allelopathic potential exist in Artemisia dubia and
this can be exploited for the control of Parthenium hysterophorus.
Description
Keywords
Germination, seeds