Abstract
Aqueous and methanol extracts of Nerium oleander L. leaves inhibited seed germination (Germination Percentage, Germination Speed, Germination Value and Peak Value) and early growth (root hair formation, root & shoot lengths of seedlings) of Parthenium hysterophorus L. in a concentration dependent manner. Methanol extracts of white flowered variety showed higher inhibition compared to that of pink flowered variety (at 1:40 dilution of the stock, inhibition was 60% and 23.4% with white and pink, respectively) and had ~5 fold higher levels of Rutin. Rutin and its aglycoside, Quercetin, when mixed with soil affected seed germination, root and shoot lengths of P. hysterophorus, though the effects varied at varying concentrations. These results demonstrate that N. oleander extracts, Rutin and Quercetin are inhibitory to P.hysterophorus.SDS-PAGE analysis of P.hysterophorus seedlings grown in presence of N. oleander aqueous extracts showed an additional prominent band of 42.66 kDa protein.
Highlights
P. hysterophorus is an obnoxious and aggressively invasive weed of global significance
Chemical methods of control by herbicides may lead to herbicide resistance by the weed (Adkins et al 1997; Njoroge.J.M.1991) and serious ecological problems like groundwater contamination further leading to human health hazards
In the preliminary assays conducted with white Nerium root leachates, complete inhibition of Parthenium seed germination was observed
Summary
P. hysterophorus is an obnoxious and aggressively invasive weed of global significance. Chemical methods of control by herbicides may lead to herbicide resistance by the weed (Adkins et al 1997; Njoroge.J.M.1991) and serious ecological problems like groundwater contamination further leading to human health hazards. Biological control (Taye Tessema Wondimu 2002) methods like release of insect enemies have limitations. Management of this weed imparts huge economic burden on the countries where it has aggressively invaded (Review of progress towards implementation of Parthenium weed strategic plan 2006-2007). Allelopathic effect of P. hysterophorus on other species makes it difficult for the weed management strategies
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