|
|
|
ALLELOPATHY BY
LANTANA CAMARA L.
1FARRUKH
HUSSAIN, 2SEEMA GHULAM, 3ZAMAN SHER AND BASHIR
AHMAD4
Abstract:
Lantana camara
L., is a common wild shruby ornamental and hedge plant growing from
plains to an elevation upto 1500m in Pakistan. Aqueous extracts of all
parts of Lantana camara have strong allelopathic effect on the
germination and growth of various test species. However, the relative
toxicity of various parts varied among themselves and against the
various test species used. Hot water extracts from leaves were more
toxic than stems followed by fruit extracts. Alcoholic extracts did
not affect the germination of three test species. Natural rain
leachates of different plant parts invariably suppressed the
germination and growth of various test species. Lantana soil
when tested showed no inhibitory effects on the germination and growth
of test species. Soil analysis indicated that CaCO3 and
organic matter were low in control soil compared with Lantana-affected
soil. Among major elements only P was higher in control soil than
Lantana-affected soil. The cell sizes of both plumule and radicle
in all the test species reduced, especially in leaf extracts. The most
affected species was Allium cepa. Paper chromatography
suggested the presence of p-OH-benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic
acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid and gentisic acid.
These compounds have known inhibitory activity against many species.
1Centre
of Plant Biodiversity, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
2Department
of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
3Government
Degree College Lahor, District Swabi, Pakistan
4Centre
of Biotechnology & Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan
|
|
|