LOW DOSES OF ATRAZINE CAUSE HORMESIS IN TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS

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Affiliations & Notes ⌄

¹Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha-40100, Pakistan. 2Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha-40100, Pakistan. 3Dean faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan. 4Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 5Director Food Science and nutrition, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan

Article Info ⌄

Abstract

Growth stimulation due to ultra-low doses of different herbicides in several crop

species has been observed both in controlled as well as in the field conditions; however

available data of hermetic effects on weeds growth is very limited. This study investigates

the promotive effect of low doses of atrazine on growth of Tribulus terrestris. Pot

experiments were conducted at Agronomic Research Area, collage of Agriculture, University

of Sargodha, during 2019. Six different concentrations of atrazine [0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 g

a.i. ha-1] were applied as post emergence herbicides at 3- 4 leaves stage of the weeds

under two different water regimes (60 % and 100 % water concentrations). Results

revealed that increase in plant chlorophyll content, fresh weight, dry weight, root length and

shoot length were observed after spraying of atrazine @ 5, 10 and 20 g a.i. ha-1 at 100 %

water concentration. Doses of atrazine above 20 g a.i. ha-1 negatively affect the growth of

Tribulus terrestris.

Abstract