Abstract
Due to increased number of herbicide resistant weeds, it is needed to explore the allelopathic potential of plants as an alternative. The research was conducted to investigate allelopathic effects of Carica papaya L. leaf powder and aqueous extract on seeds as well as pre-germinated seeds of Avena fatua L., Helianthus annuus L., Rumex dentatus L., Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. on filter paper and soil in Weed Management Program Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection at PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. Germination percentage (%), radicle length (cm) and plumule length (cm) were parameters observed for 'Plant leaf powder bioassay' and 'Aqueous extract method'. Most significant growth inhibition was observed in A. fatua seedlings in filter paper method. A. fatua radicle length was reduced by C. papaya aqueous extract (80%) and leaf powder (89%) bioassays. Plumule length was reduced under the influence of aqueous extract (57-73%) and powdered material (59-77%). The inhibitory effects on other test species were in sequence of H. annuus followed by Z. mays and R. dentatus. The aqueous extract showed non-significant effect on wheat seed germination, radicle and plumule growth. It is suggested that C. papaya aqueous extract can be used as source of weed management in wheat crop.
Highlights
Weeds are non-economic plants that reduce crop yield (Mukhtar et al, 2012)
The data analysis indicated that application of plant aqueous extract and dry powdered material of C. papaya leaves significantly reduced germination percentage (%) of all test species viz. A. fatua, R. dentatus, H. annuus, Z. mays and T. aestivum germination inhibition (%) was observed for all test species by dry powdered form and aqueous extract of screening material on filter paper and soil, most significant inhibition in germination percentage (%) was observed by its aqueous extract applied on filter paper
567/573 567 species, reduction in germination was observed in R. dentatus, followed by Z. mays and H. annuus with almost similar inhibitory effects
Summary
Weeds are non-economic plants that reduce crop yield (Mukhtar et al, 2012). Allelopathy is natural tool to increase crop yield by weed control reducing utilization of synthetic herbicides (Alagesaboopathi, 2010). Studies have suggested allelochemicals as alternatives to synthetic herbicides for weed control (Khanh et al, 2006; Jamil et al, 2009). The allelochemicals released into environment act on neighboring weeds, plants, microbes both stimulatory and inhibitory. Allelopathy is ‘detrimental effect of one plant on another through release of chemicals’. The interaction is mediated by allelopathic compounds released from donor affecting acceptor organisms. Allelochemicals are useful for weed management in agriculture to reduce dependency on commercial herbicides. An allelopathic crop can potentially be used to control weeds through its allelochemicals. Eucalyptus citriodora inhibited the germination of P. hysterophorus (Garima and Devi, 2017)
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