Relative phytotoxicity of stem and root aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on Cicer aeritinum

The present study was conducted to evaluate the relative phytotoxic effects of different concentrations (15, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of aqueous extract from stem and root of Parthenium hysterophorus on the rate of seed germination, length of root and shoot, and Seed Vigour Index (SVI) of Cicer aeritinum. In laboratory condition the experiment was set up in petri dishes, each petri dish contained ten seeds. Each treatment had ten replicates. A control condition was maintained using distilled water in place of stem or root aqueous extracts of Parthenium. The rate of seed germination in Cicer aeritinum in stem and root aqueous extracts of different concentrations decreased from 5% to 79%, and 0.0% to 22%, respectively. The inhibition value in root length in stem extracts varied from 11.14% to 85.96% and in root extract was from 13.14% to 64.25%. The inhibition in shoot length in stems and roots extracts varied from 14.67% to 50.19% and 73.68% to 85.86%, respectively. The Seed Vigour Index (SVI) value decreased from 16.38% to 94.99% in stem extract and 32.11% to 77.37% in root extract. The stem extract of Parthenium was more phytotoxic than the root extract in Cicer aeritinum. When the data collected were analysed using Tukey HSD and Post HOC Tests the phytotoxic impacts of plant parts (stem and root); treatments (15, 25, 50, 75 and 100% concentrations); and interactions between plant parts and treatments were highly significantly different at p < 0.000. Thus the present study indicated that the aqueous extracts of stem of Parthenium were recorded more phytotoxic than root extract on germination and growth of Cicer aeritinum.