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.
Pushpa, Nighat Seema Soomro, Shahla Karim Baloch, Mehmooda Buriro, Aijaz Ahmed Soomro, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Qamar Uddin Jogi, Muhammad Nawaz Kandhro, Farheen Deeba Soomro. (2019) Allelopathic Effect of Weed Species on Germination and Seedling Traits of Wheat Varieties, Journal of Innovative Sciences, VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2.
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