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Pak. J. Bot., 45(S1): 467-474, 2013.

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ALLELOPATHIC EVALUATION OF SHARED INVASIVE PLANTS AND WEEDS OF PAKISTAN AND JAPAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT

MUHAMMAD IBRAR SHINWARI¹, MARYUM IBRAR SHINWARI² AND YOSHIHARU FUJII³

Abstract: In an investigation, three dimensional assessments have been made to evaluate allelopathic potential of 38 shared invasive plants and weeds of Pakistan and Japan originated from 5 continents, carried out at Plant Chemical Ecology Laboratory at National Institute of Agro-Environmental Science, Japan from January 2008 to March 2009. The plant species under investigation have been tested by subjecting their root exudates, leaf litter and volatiles through application of Plant box, Sandwich and Dish pack methods. The results obtained from all 3 different methods have been statistically analyzed and the mean, standard deviation (SD) and SD variance (SDV) has been calculated to determine the inhibition pattern of radicals growth of the lettuce seedlings for environmental risk assessment. According to results, as a whole Melilotus officinalis appeared to be the most noxious species among all due to maximum inhibition effect shown on the radical growth of Lactuca sativa followed by Melilotus alba, Datura stramonium and Mirabilis jalapa. While Rumex crispus, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex conglomerates and Trifolium pratense have shown minimum inhibition effect. The results presented can be utilized as benchmark information for further joint research on the elucidation of chemicals involved in the allelopathy in nature. The information obtained can also be helpful in the development of new and potent bioactive chemicals from natural products to combat environmental risk.

¹Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad,

²Pakistan Scientific & Technological Information Centre, Islamabad

³National Institute of Agro-Environmental Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

^*Corresponding author e-mail: drmishinwari@yahoo.com