ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF IMPORTANT WEEDS ON GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Allelopathic effects of different weeds’ aqueous extracts on germination and seedling growth inhibition of Maize were studied. Treatments comprised of control (distilled water), Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. Convolvulus arvensis L., Galium aparine L. and Trianthema portulacastrum L. shoot aqueous extracts were applied and were replicated four times using a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement. The results showed a significant inhibitory effects (p 0.05) of the shoot aqueous extracts of the above weeds on the germination of seed and plantlet growth of maize in comparison to the control. The largest seed germination inhibition 21.25% was recorded for the shoot aqueous extract of Trianthema portulacastrum L. in comparison with control that gave 97.25% germination. The root and shoot length of maize was greatly inhibited by the aqueous shoot extract of Trianthema portulacastrum L. (0.405) and (0.262), respectively in comparison with control treatment. The greater number of root was observed in the Petri dishes treated with shoot aqueous extract of Galium aparine L. while the smallest number was recorded in the Petri dishes treated with Trianthema portulacastrum L. Fresh weight of root is greatly affected by both the aqueous shoot extract of Convolvulus arvensis L. and Trianthema portulacastrum L. (0.065 and 0.112, respectively) and maximum fresh weight of root was recorded for the shoot aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (0.300). The result recorded of fresh shoot weight for the aqueous shoot extract of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. is the smallest (0.197) as compared to control treatment (0.470). The dry shoot weight was affected by control treatment (0.0725) as compared to shoot aqueous extract of Galium aparine L. (0.767). And dry root weight was recorded lightest (0.052) for control and was noted the heaviest for the shoot aqueous extract of Galium aparine L. (0.302).