Allelopathic effects of leaf leachate of Mangifera indica L. on initial growth parameters of few homegarden food crops.
Sahoo U. K., Jeeceelee L., Vanlalhriatpuia K., Upadhyaya K., Lalremruati J. H.
Author Affiliation: Department of Forestry, School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Mizoram University, Post Box-190, Tanhril, Aizawl - 796 009, Mizoram, India.
World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 6 : 579-588
Abstract : Aqueous leaf extract of different concentrations of Mangifera indica L., was used to investigate their effects on germination, shoot and root lengths and dry matter yield of 5 food crops viz. Capsicum annum L. (Chilli), Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soybean), Zea mays L. (Maize), Oryza sativa L. (Rice) and Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Lady's finger). Mature fresh leaves of Mangifera indica L were crushed and soaked for 24 h; the filtrates were diluted to make different concentration and used to investigate their effect on the test crops. The aqueous leaf leachate of M. indica was found to have both stimulatory and inhibitory effect on germination, shoot, root elongation and dry matter of receptor plants. Both bioassays and pot culture indicated that the inhibitory effect was much more pronounced at higher concentrations, while the lowest concentration showed stimulatory effect in some cases. The most affected crop was lady's finger among the test crops. The inhibitory effect was much pronounced (P0.001) in shoot and root lengths as compared with the germination of the receptor crops.