Abstract
Wheat allelopathy can be manipulated for sustainable weed management in wheat based cropping systems. Bioassays were
conducted to quantify the allelopathic potential of 35 indigenous wheat genotypes against germination and seedling growth of
wild oat (Avena fatua L.). Foliar application of aqueous extracts of wheat straw, surface mulching and incorporation of wheat
straw of different genotypes were employed for bioassays study. Results revealed the suppressive allelopathic activity of
different wheat genotypes manifested in the form of impaired germination and retarded seedling growth of wild oat. A highly
significant genotypic variation in allelopathic potential was observed for different traits. Germination of wild oat was
decreased by 10-84% over control by different wheat genotypes. Likewise, over 70% reductions in seedling root and shoot
dry weight of wild oat was also observed in V6007. Wheat genotypes viz. V6007, AS 2000, V6111, V6034, V4611, V7189,
Uqab 2000, Chanab 2000, Bhakkar 2002, Pak 81 and Rohtas 90 showed strongly inhibitory allelopathic activity against
seedling growth of wild oat. V6007 exhibited highest suppression of wild oat. These studies confirm the suppressive
allelopathic potential of indigenous wheat genotypes against wild oat that needs further to be explored under natural
conditions.
