ALLELOPATHIC RESPONSE OF ROOT EXUDATES OF FIVE COMMON WEEDS IN YARD LONG BEAN (VIGNA UNGUICULATA SUBSP. SESQUIPEDALIS L. VERD] AND MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Abstract

The allelopathic effect on seed germination, seedling growth, fresh weight, dry weight, total chlorophyll and cell metabolic activity of yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis L.verd) and maize (Zea maize L.) to the water extract of root exudates of Polygonum hydropiper L. (T1), Amaranthus spinosus L. (T2), Eclipta alba L. (T3), Mimosa pudica L. (T4) and Cynodon dactylon (G. Don) Exell (T5) were investigated in this study. Allelopathic testing of root exudates on five weed species revealed that all extracts had a noticeable inhibitory effect on tested crops. The results showed that the concentrated aqueous root exudates of T1, T4 and T5 reduced all parameters on both test crops. Yard long bean was more sensitive to the inhibitory effects than maize. The findings suggested that root exudates may affect yard long bean and maize seeds due to the inhibitory effect of allelochemicals present in the tested weeds.