Abstract:
Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus, spreads as a weed of cultivated fields from plains up to 1000m on relatively mesic habitats in Pakistan. It replaces and reduces the growth of associated species within the common habitat. Experiments revealed that Bothriochloa pertusa significantly suppressed the growth of Lycopersicon esculentum, Lactuca sativa, Zea mays, Setaria Italica, Capsicum annuum, and pennisetum americanum in root mixed cultures under favourable habitat conditions by releasing some water soluble chemical (s) from the roots in the fields. The latter four species simultaneously retarded the growth of Bothriochloa in the same treatments. Aqueous extracts from shoots, roots, seeds and root exudates, shoot mulch, soil beneath the grass and soil extracts invariably reduced germination, radicle growth and dry mass of pennisetum americanum, Setaria italica, Lactuca sativa, Brassica campestris, Lycopersicon esculentum and Capsicum annuum in different bioassays. The viability of Brassica campestris and Setaria italica seeds and survival of Capsicum and Lycopersicon reduced in nutrient rich growth medium containing extracts. Enhanced soaking of plant material increased the toxicity while continued leaching reduced it. The toxicity was related to test species, part assayed and independently affected the germination and growth. The findings suggested strong allelopathy of Bothriochloa pertusa against the species tested.
Page(s):
71-83
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Volume: 8, Issue: 1, Year: 1987