Abstract: Parthenium hysterophorus L. a noxious weed has spread in all states of India. It is spreading in agroecosystem and affecting the biodiversity and productivity of the agroecosystems. The present study was conducted in Department of Botany, J.P.University in laboratory condition to evaluate the phytotoxicity levels of different concentrations of aqueous extracts of leaves, stems and roots of Parthenium on the rate of seed germination, root and shoot length and Seed Vigour Index in Zea mays. The rate of seed germination, root length, shoot length and Seed Vigour Index in Z.mays decreased by 53 to 100%; 42.6 to 76.03%; 45.15 to 74.56% and 77.74 to 96.54%, respectively. In stem extract seed germination, root length, shoot length and SVI were inhibited which ranged from 3.33 to 96.67%; 6.30 to 95.22%; 37.40 to 77.38%; and 56.78% to 99.61%, respectively, whereas in root aqueous extract these values decreased by 5 to 28.75%; 1.39 to 27.91%; 27.74 to 66.93%; and 24.06 to 56.565. On the basis of phytotoxicity levels of the plant parts of Parthenium for Z.mays can be arranged as leaves > stems > roots. The phytotoxic impacts of leaves, stem and roots for seed germination, root and shoot length and SVI were significantly different at p < 0.000. Similarly the impact of treatments i.e. different concentrations of aqueous extracts of leaves, stems and roots also differed significantly for seed germination and growth parameters at p < 0.000. The interaction of plant parts and treatments were significantly different for germination (p < 0.000), for root length (p < 0.001) but for shoot length no significant differences occurred (p < 0.334).
Keywords: Parthenium hysterophorus, Phytotoxicity, Root length and shoot length, Seed germination, Seed Vigour Index.
Title: Phytotoxicity of Parthenium hysterophorus L. residues towards growth of Zea mays
Author: Raj Shikha, A.K.Jha
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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