Phytotoxic impact of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on Macrotyloma uniflorum a pulse crop in a dry tropical environment, Bihar, India

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of leaf, stem and root of Parthenium hysterophorus on the rate of seed germination (%) and seedling growth (cm) in Macrotyloma uniflorum. The different concentrations of root, stem and leaf extract used in the experiment were 15, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The rate of seed germination, length of root and shoot and Seed Vigour Index (SVI) values were recorded. Data collected were analysed for Pearsons Correlation Coefficient, Tukey HSD (Honestly Significant Difference) and Post HOC Tests. It was recorded that SVI value decreased in different concentrations of leaf, stem and root from 23.53 to 100%, 3.33 to 26.21% and 32.44 to 100%, respectively. This indicated that leaf and root extracts were more phytotoxic to M.uniflorum than the stem extract of P.hysterophorus. The rate of seed germination and length of shoot differed significantly in different concentrations than the length of root, as indicated by Post HOC Test. The effect of plant parts i.e. root, stem and leaf; treatments i.e. different concentrations and interaction of plant parts and treatments were significantly differed at p < 0.000. Generally the impacts of different parts were also significantly different at p < 0.000. Thus, this study indicated that the leaf and root extracts are more toxic to M. uniflorum than the stem extract; and the rate of seed germination and shoot length were more affected than the root length. The seed germination and shoot growth in M. uniflorum are affected by leaf and root extracts of Parthenium.