17. Allelopathic effect of Morus alba, Populus nigra and Euphorbia helioscopia on Brassica campestris
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Abstract
The current research work investigates the allelopathic potential of leaves of most common plants found in Brassica farms i.e. Morus alba, Populus nigra and Euphorbia helioscopia on seed germination and seedling growth of Brassica campestris. Fresh and dry leaves of M. alba, P. nigra and E. Helioscopia was prepared by soaking fresh chopped leaves and dry leaves in powder form (5g, 10g and 15g) were soaked in 100ml of distilled water for 48hrs and were filtered after 24hrs. The extract of M. alba, P. nigra and E. helioscopia was applied on B. campestris seeds to study its effect on germination percentage, radicle length and plumule length. The data was recorded in triplicates after 72hrs of the incubation period at 26ºC. Extracts of M. alba and P. nigra significantly reduced the germination percentage while E. helioscopia enhanced the germination percentage of B. campestris. The results revealed that the most effective treatment was 10g fresh leaves extract of P. nigra which reduced the germination to 67% and showed no germination in 15g fresh leaves extract. The fresh and dry leaves extract of M. alba, P. nigra and E. helioscopia reduced the radicle and plumule length. Maximum reduction in the radicle length was recorded 95.41% in 10g fresh leaves extract of Populus nigra and maximum reduction in plumule length was recorded 95.49% in 15g dry leaves extract of Euphorbia helioscopia. The effect of dry leaves extract was more inhibitory effect than the fresh leaves extract. From the results it was concluded that the fresh and dry leaves extract of M. alba, P. nigra and E. helioscopia negatively affected the germination and seedling growth of Brassica campestris which indicates that some allelochemicals might be present in these plants.
Keywords: Allelopathic effect, Brassica campestris; Euphorbia helioscopia; Germination percentage; Inhibitory effect; Morus alba, Populus nigra; Plumule length; Radicle length