Abstract

Aim of the present study was to evaluate allelopathic effect of Lantana camara leaf powder on germination and growth behaviour of Zea mays and Triticum turgidum. The pot culture experiments were conducted at Botany laboratory, Tewodros campus, University of Gondar, Ethiopia from November 2012 to April 2013. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with three treatments and one control. The soil without adding L. camara leaf powder was considered as control (T₀) and T₁, T₂ and T₃ were mixed with 25, 50 and 75 g of L. camara leaf powder, respectively. The percentage of germination, root and shoot length, stem thickness and biomass were recorded from three replicates. Maximum germination percentage of wheat (96.60%) and maize (53.33%) was recorded at T₁ and it was minimum (70%) in wheat and maize (43.33%) at T₃ compared to control (100%). The germination index of wheat and maize was 5 cm and 1.9 cm, respectively at T₁. The shoot and root length variation observed in wheat and maize was statistically significant (p<0.05) compared to control. The percentage root inhibition of wheat and maize was 62.1 and 39.4%, respectively at T₃ compared to control. The stem thickness variation among the treatment and control was statistically significant (p<0.05) in both the experimental plants. Maximum fresh weight and dry weight of wheat was 1.3 g and 0.4 g, respectively at T₀ and minimum was 0.8 and 0.1 g, respectively at T₃. In maize, maximum fresh weight and dry weight was 8.5 g and 1.5 g, respectively at T₀ and minimum 3.9 and 0.4 g, respectively at T₃. The biomass variation of wheat and maize results were statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, L. camara leaf powder significantly inhibits seed germination, speed of germination, shoot and root length, stem thickness and biomass of wheat and maize. By keeping the L. camara plants around agricultural field may affect growth parameter of wheat and maize. Further studies on characterization of phytochemicals and their specific role in different agricultural crops is important.

Keywords:

Allelopathy, biomass, germination, growth, Lantana camara, Triticum turgidum, Zea mays,

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