Abstract
Datura stramonium (L.) contains allelochemicals capable of affecting agro-morphological traits in plants. Thus, field experiment was carried out at Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, Minna, Nigeria to examine the effects of different concentrations [25%, 50% and 100% and 0% (control)] of D. stramonium aqueous seed extracts on agro-morphological attributes of two soybean varieties (‘TG x 2018-5E’ and ‘TG x 2022-4E’), obtained from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan. Dry seeds of the soybean were pre-soaked in the Datura seed extracts for two hours before planting in a complete randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates each. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). At maturity, D. stramonium seed extracts significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased plant height (38.37 cm) and length of petiole (2.93 cm) for ‘TG x 2018-5E’ at 100% concentration. Significantly highest plant height (29.20 cm) and number of branches (17.00) were enhanced in ‘TG x 2022-4E’ at 50% concentration. Both ‘TG x 2018-5E’ and ‘TG x 2022-4E’ leaf areas were significantly highest (23.11 cm2 and 28.41 cm2, respectively) at 100% concentration. Yield attributes such as number of seeds per plant, weight of fresh and dry pods per plant for both ‘TG x 2018-5E’ (3.33, 1.60 and 1.32, respectively) and ‘TG x 2022-4E’ (3.00, 0.60 and 0.26, respectively) were significantly stimulated in 50% concentration while number of pods per plant was significantly highest for ‘TG x 2018-5E’ and ‘TG x 2022- 4E’ (3.33 and 3.00, respectively) in 100% concentration. On these premises higher concentrations (50% and 100%) of D. stramonium seed extracts support better morphological growth and yield characters in soybean varieties.
Highlights
Datura stramonium (Jimson weed) is an annual poisonous, alkaloid containing plant from the nightshade family (Solanaceae)
The results of the effects of aqueous seed extracts of Jimson weed on two varieties of soybean showed that the extracts affected the morphological traits of the crop in varying ways
Similar findings have been reported by Daudu et al (2020) where it was opined that notable increase of plant height may be attributed to the stimulatory effects of D. stramonium on the growth of maize plant at medium and high concentrations
Summary
Datura stramonium (Jimson weed) is an annual poisonous, alkaloid containing plant from the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is called Angel’s trumpet, Thorn apple, Stinkweed, Devil’s trumpet, Jamestown weed, Locoweed and Hell’s bells (Mahnaz et al, 2012). D. stramonium originates in the America’s but is found around the world including the warmer regions of North, Central and South America, Received: 01 Jan 2021. Received in revised form: 29 Jan 2021. From Volume 13, Issue 1, 2021, Notulae Scientia Biologicae journal will use article numbers in place of the traditional method of continuous pagination through the volume
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