ABSTRACT
The Allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on
germination and seedling vigour of chickpea were investigated. An experiment under
controlled condition was carried out during 1995-96. Root stem, leaf and stem+leaf of Parthenium
hysterophorus L. were allowed to decay for the period of 120, 168, 216 and 264 hour as
per treatment in water in the ratio of 1:10 w/v of plant material and water respectively.
The aqueous extracts of different parts of Parthenium hysterophorus L. produced
significant effect on chickpea. At 3 DAS, highest germination was noted under stem+leaf
extract of 264 hours. At 5, 7, 9 and 11 DAS, different part of Parthenium hysterophorus
L. failed to produced any detrimental effect on germination. Stem +leag extract of 264
hours and leaf extract of 264 hours resulted in maximum shoot and root elongation
respectively.
Parthenium hysterophorus L. an annual herbaceous weed, is now
widely spread in India, Africa, China, Vietnam, Pacific Islands and Australia. It spread
quickly and decreased the yields of several crops ( Narwal 1994). Chickpea is one of the
popular legume of Chhattisgarh (Madhya Pradesh) of India. Allelopathic effects of many
weeds on chickpea have been reported ( Narwal 1994; Oudhia et al. 1997a, 1997b). In order
to explore the allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on chickpea, an
experiment under laboratory condition was carried out at Department of Agronomy, IGAU,
Raipur (India) during 1995-1996.
Root, stem, leaf and stem+leaf of Parthenium hysterophorus L.
were allowed to decay for the period of 5, 7, 9, and 11 days in normal water in the ratio
of 1:10 w/v of plant material and water respectively. The experiment was laid out in
completely randomized design. The treatments were replicated thrice. The experiment was
carried out in petridisher with sterile as substrate. In each petridish, where 25
representative chickpea seeds were placed in sand, 15 ml. of extract was applied. In case
of control only water was used. The petridishes were kept at 20 2 C in germinator.
Chickpea variety JG-74 was used as test crop. Germinator of seed at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 DAS
(Days After Sowing) was recorded. At 11 DAS, root and shoot length was noted.
The aqueous extract of different parts of Parthenium hysterophorus
L. produced significant effect on germination at 3 DAS. At 5, 7, 9 and 11 DAS, all
treatment combinations produced comparable germination with control(water). At 3 DAS,
stem+leaf extract of 264 hours produced significantly higher germination as compared to
rest of the treatment combinations except stem and leaf extract of 264 hours and control
(water) which were at par. Stem extract of 168 hours lowered the germination to the
minimum. The positive (inhibitory) effect as observed at 3 DAS and different aqueous
extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus L. failed to produce any detrimental effect on
germination on chickpea ( Table 1&2).
In case of shoot elongation, significantly higher shoot elongation was
noted under stem+leaf extract of 264 hours. Root, stem and leaf extracts of 264 hours
produced comparable shoot elongation with stem+leaf extract of 264 hours. Root extract of
168 hours resulted in lowest shoot elongation. Root, stem, leaf and stem+leaf extract of
264 hour and root extract of 168 hours produced comparable root elongation and resulted in
significantly higher root elongation as compared to rest of the treatment combinations.
Lowest root elongation was noted root extract of 120 hours.
The present study, an isolation of allelochemicals was not done. The
inhibitory effects of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on germination of many crops have
been reported ( Narwal 1994). But the negative (stimulatory) effects of Parthenium
hysterophorus L. as observed in this study, were may alter the alleopathic potential
of Parthenium hysterophorus L. In case o shoot elongation, all parts of Parthenium
hysterophorus L. produced higher shoot length when they are allowed to decay for 264
hours. Irrespective to sources, other decaying period resulted in lower shoot length. It
gives a birth of an hyhpothersis that at this decaying period(i.e. decaying period of 264)
some specific allelochemicals might have been produced which have resulted in stimulated
shoot length. This phenomenon may be utilized in field condition in order to promote the
shoot or root elongation without affecting its germination. The negative (stimulatory)
allelopathic effects as resulted due to different decaying periods were reported. (Oudhia
et al. 1995; 1997a; 1997b and 1997c). Furthermore, duplication of this work under field
condition of this work under field condition would provide better understanding of
allelopathic phenomenon of this weed on chickpea.
REFERENCES
Narwal, S. S. 1994. Allelopathy in crop production. Scientific
Publishers, Jodhpur pp. 145.
Oudhia, P., etc. (1995) Weed News 2(1&2): 15-18.
Oudhia, P., etc. (1997a) In Abstract Seventh Biennial Conference, ISWS, Ludhiana p.109.
Oudhia, P., etc. (1997b) Legume Research ( In Press).
Oudhia, P., etc. (1997c) Agril. Sci. Dig.(In Press). |