Allelopathic Effect of Weed Species on Germination and Seedling Traits of Wheat Varieties
Allelopathic Effect of Weed Species on Germination and Seedling Traits of Wheat Varieties
Pushpa1, Nighat Seema Soomro1, Shahla Karim Baloch2, Mehmooda Buriro1, Aijaz Ahmed Soomro1, Muhammad Tahir Khan3, Qamar Uddin Jogi1*, Muhammad Nawaz Kandhro1 and Farheen Deeba Soomro1
ABSTRACT
Wheat productivity and quality is significantly impaired by weeds’ infection which compete for water, nutrients and sunlight. This study was conducted to determine the allelopathic effect of weed species on germination and seedling traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Wheat varieties Amber and TJ83 were subjected to powder of Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis and Avena fatua under three different treatments i.e. 25, 50 and 75g. The effect of these weed powders on seed germination (%), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), shoot fresh weight (g), root fresh weight (g), shoot dry weight (g), root dry weight (g), and seed vigor index of test species was investigated under laboratory conditions. The powder of weed plants produced significantly (p<0.05) harmful outcomes on all growth parameters of wheat varieties as compared to the control treatment. The maximum seed germination (82.16a %), shoot length (27.70 cm), root length (14.90 cm), shoot fresh weight (2.19 g), root fresh weight (1.16 g), shoot dry weight (0.54 g), root dry weight (0.27 g), and seed vigor index (3483.5) were recorded in variety Amber under the control (where no allelopathic weed powder was applied). The minimum seed germination (28.16%) was observed in variety TJ83 under the treatment of Avena fatua powder (@ 75g kg-1 of soil). Shoot length and root length of the studied wheat varieties were also affected in inverse proportion to the concentration of allelopathic weed powder. Shortest shoots (14.46 cm) and roots (3.20 cm) were seen in variety TJ83 at the highest concentration of Avena fatua powder (75g kg-1 soil). The minimum shoot fresh weight (0.13 g), root fresh weight (0.10 g), shoot dry weight (0.04 g), and root dry weight (0.03 g) were also noticed in variety TJ83 under the highest treatment of Avena fatua powder (75g kg-1 soil). Similarly, minimum seed vigor index (496.9) was also seen in same variety under the maximum treatment of Avena fatua. In respect of the above findings it was concluded that the powder from weed species reduced germination and subsequent plant growth of wheat which hints towards importance of apposite measures within due time against weed species to harvest better crop yield.
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