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Pak. J. Bot., 47(6): 2449-2454, 2015.

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ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF JATROPHA CURCAS L. LEAF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS ON SEEDLING GROWTH OF WHEAT

ADNAN KHATTAK¹, FAIZAN ULLAH^1*, SULTAN MEHMOOD WAZIR¹ AND ZABTA KHAN SHINWARI^2*

¹Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu KP, Pakistan

²Department of Biotechnology Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan

^*Corresponding authors e-mail: drfaizanwazir@gmail.com shinwari2008@gmail.com

Abstract: Allelopathic effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Jatropha curcas on seed germination and early seedling growth of wheat cv. Inqlab-91 were investigated. The extracts were applied at 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25% and 3.12% as seed soaking for 5h prior to sowing of seeds in the pots. The J. curcas leaf characterized for composition of macronutrients showed Na (304 µg/g), K (267 µg/g), Mg (92 µg/g) and Ca (12 µg/g). Among micronutrients Fe (92 µg/g), Cr (92 µg/g), Ni (48 µg/g), Co (38 µg/g), Cu (23 µg/g, Mn (12 µg/g) and Zn (15.22 µg/g) were found. Phenolic compounds were detected in the extracts and were found maximum (8.12 mg gallic acid/g extract) in 50% extract. Lower concentrations (6.25%, 3.25%) of the extracts significantly improved seed germination (%), germination index, shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight and root area of wheat plants (p<0.05). At higher concentration of the extract, root length was significantly reduced. It is inferred that lower concentrations (6.25% and 3.12%) of the extracts exhibited beneficial effects on growth of wheat plants.

Key words: Allelopathy, Phenolics, Jatropha curcas, Nutrients, Germination.