Biological control of Parthenium IV: suppressive ability of aqueous leaf extracts of some allelopathic trees against germination and early seedling growth of Parthenium hysterophorus L.
Sobiya Shafique, Rukhsana Bajwa, Arshad Javaid, Shazia Shafique
Author Affiliation: Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research 11 : 75-79
Abstract : Aqueous extract bioassays were conducted to evaluate the allelopathic potential of five tree species Azadirachta indica, Ficus benghalensis, Melia azedarach, Mangifera indica and Syzygium cumini, for their use in Parthenium hysterophorus control, one of the world's worst weeds. Aqueous extracts of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% (w/v), obtained from dry leaves of test tree species were bioassayed on P. hysterophorus seeds. Toxicity of the aqueous extracts was assessed by recording their effect on germination, radicle and plumule length, and seedling biomass of the test weed species. Aqueous extracts of 8 and 10% concentrations of all the test tree species invariably and significantly (P?0.05) suppressed germination of P. hysterophorus seeds. Extracts of F. benghalensis and M. indica were proved more inhibitory than rest of the test species, where extract of lowest concentration of 2% significantly suppressed the germination. Extracts of M. azedarach were found most effective in suppressing the radicle and plumule growth of P. hysterophorus followed by S. cumini and F. benghalensis.