Allelopathic effects of Ageratum conyzoides L. on the germination and growth of Zea mays L., Lactuca sativa L. and Solanum lycopersicum L.
Allelopathic effects of Ageratum conyzoides L. on the germination and growth of Zea mays L., Lactuca sativa L. and Solanum lycopersicum L.
- Author(s) R.B. Syngkli and P.K. Rai
- Year: 2024
- Month: July
- Volume: 62
- Pages: 193-204
We evaluated the allelopathic potential of Ageratum conyzoides L. aqueous leaf extracts on germination and growth of Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), Zea mays L. (corn) and Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce). Total phenolic content (TPC) of the soil rhizosphere was determined by spectrophotometry method. We also investigated the habitat attributes (e.g., canopy openness and leaf area index (LAI)) of A. conyzoides infested region. Results revealed that aqueous leaf extracts had both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on the germination, plumule length and radicle length of crops. All extract concentrations inhibited the germination of Z. mays and L. sativa seeds, but no effects on S. lycopersicum, except at 50 gL-1. Conversely, plumule and radicle lengths were stimulated in S. lycopersicum and L. sativa for majority of extract concentrations but they were inhibited in Z. mays. The inhibitory allelopathic effects of A. conyzoides were maximum in Z. mays (i.e., S. lycopersicum < L. sativa < Z. mays). TPC values in invaded soil were 0.046 g/L and 0.48 g/L with gallic acid and catechol, respectively. This study showed that the presence of allelochemicals in A. conyzoides invaded soil, which potentially influenced the crops, thereby validating the ‘novel weapon (NW) hypothesis’. The recorded values of habitat attributes were associated with the successful spread of A. conyzoides and hence, its allelopathic effects on test crops.
