Allelopathic potential of mexican sunflower [tithonia diversifolia (hemsl) a. Gray] on germination and growth of cowpea seedlings (vigna sinensis l.)
Journal Title: Scientia Agriculturae - Year 2015, Vol 12, Issue 3
Abstract
Allelopathy is a common among plants. Allelopathic substances affect seed germination, plant growth and development or even affect chlorophyll synthesis by the plant leaves. Tithonia diversifolia contains allelochemicals that inhibit growth of many agricultural crops. A study was conducted at Maseno University (Kenya) to investigate the allelopathic effects of T. diversifolia on the germination of seeds, growth and synthesis of chlorophyll of seedlings of cowpea (Vigna sinensis). Cowpeas seeds and seedlings were subjected to four different concentrations of the fresh shoot aqueous extracts which comprised of 0 (tap water), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Twenty Seeds of cowpeas were germinated in sterilized petri dishes lined with a layer of filter paper whatman no. 1, moistened with 10ml of each extract concentration and tap water respectively. Germination percentage, plumule and coleoptiles length were determined at the end of the study. Individual cowpeas seedlings were planted in 4.5 litres plastic pots containing soil and irrigated with the various shoot extracts concentrations and tap water using 500ml respectively. The treatments were replicated five times and the pots laid out as completely randomized design in the glasshouse. Data on shoot height; number of leaves per plant was recorded on weekly basis. Leaf area, shoot and root dry weights and leaf total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b concentration were determined at the end of the experiment. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS statistical package. Treatment means were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) at (P<0.05). The results revealed that fresh shoot aqueous extracts of T. diversifolia have both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on V. sinensis. Seed germination increased with increasing concentration of shoot extracts from 25%, 50% to 100% even though there were no significance differences among treatments. Plumule and radicle lengths reduced significantly among treatments. Shoot heights, leaf number, leaf area, shoot and root dry weights, total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a and b concentrations increased significantly with increasing shoot extract except at 100% treatment where all these parameters were inhibited.
Authors and Affiliations
D. M Musyimi , L. O Okelo , V. S Okello , P Sikuku
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP95821
- DOI 10.15192/PSCP.SA.2015.12.3.149155
- Views 132
- Downloads 0
Feeding efficacy of coccinella septempunctata and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata against Macrosiphum rosae.
The lady bird beetle (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) is being exploited as a potent animal for the effective control of the aphids besides other animal pests that cause colossal economic losses throughout Pakistan.The...
Influence of osmoregulators on plant tolerance to water stress
This article highlights on some recent researches, which studied the impact of osmoregulator compounds and their application on the plant in order to increase the plant tolerance to water stress. Water stress limit...
Bioactivity of natural essential oils against Sitophilus oryzae and Ephestia Küehniella
The repellency test of three extracted oils Jatropha curcas, canola and Jojoba Seed oils, were studied against two lepidopterous insect pests Ephestia küehniellaand Sitophilusoryzae. Results showed that, the tested...
Cottonseed (Gossypium arboreum) Oil Biodiesel
Oil was extracted from Cottonseed by soxhlet extraction method and it gave an oil content of 20.2%. Preliminary characterization gave very low free fatty acid value hence it was transesterified without pretreatment...
Direct Organogenesis of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) for Propagation of True-to-Type Plants
This study aimed to develop an efficient method for micrpropagation of true-to-type date palm plants through direct organogenesis. Nodular cultures were obtained from shoot tips on MS medium plus 2 mg/l 2ip and 1 m...