Propagation of Black Nightshade (Solanum Nigrum L.): Effect of Light and Shade

Abstract

Solanum nigrum L; black nightshade has been extensively used in traditional medicine to cure liver disorders, chronic skin ailments, inflammatory, menstrual pain, fever etc. This study was conducted to provide the most effective means of propagating S. nigrum and to evaluate the effect of light and shade on the S. nigrum seedling. Seeds, branches and stem cuttings are the treatments for the experiment, denoted as T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Thirty (30) seeds, branches and stem cuttings each were planted in 90 perforated polythene bags respectively, arranged in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and replicated three times. The parameters assessed at maturity include; number of leaves, number of fruits, number of branches, shoot length, plant height, leaf area. Chlorophyll content, fresh leaf weight, fresh fruit weight, dry leaf weight, dry fruit weight, dry root weight, fresh root weight, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight were evaluated on the seedling subjected to light and shade. The result showed that the growth parameters determined were significantly higher at (p ≤ 0.05) in plants propagated by stems than those propagated by branches and seeds. Plants grown under light regime displayed the highest weight and chlorophyll content than those plants under shade regime. It can therefore be concluded that S. nigrum should be propagated by stem and also, the vegetable is a light lovingplant.