A ALLELLOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANAL. AGAINST TRITICUM AESTIVUML., ZEA MAYSL., CICER ARIETINUML.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of Zizypusmauritiana against some crop species. Plant materials of Z.mauritiana were collected from Ahmad Abad District Karak and dried at room temperature (25-30˚C). Allelopathic studies conducted by using aqueous extracts from various parts including mature leaves, bark, fruit rain water and mulching in various experiments invariably retarded the germination, plumule, radical growth, fresh and dry weight of Trictium aestivm, Zea mays, and Cicer arietinum., used as a test species. The aqueous extracts obtained after 48 h were more inhibitory than 24h. Leaves were more toxic than fruit and bark. Rain water and mulching experiments also proved to be inhibitory. It is suggested that the various assayed parts of Z.muritianahave strong allelopathic potential at least against the tested species. Further investigation is required to see its allelopathic behavior under field condition against its associated species and to identify the toxic principle.