ALLELOPATHIC EFFECT OF SELECTED EUPHORBIACEAE SPECIES ON GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT CROPS

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of aqueous leaf extracts from Euphorbia helioscopia L., Euphorbia milii Des Moulins, Euphorbia prostrata Aiton, and Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. on the seed germination and early seedling development of Triticum aestivum (wheat), Spinacia oleracea (spinach), Pisum sativum (pea) and Oryza sativa (rice). The filter paper method was used to assess the effects of three concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) of each plant extract on the selected test species. The aqueous extract of Euphorbia milii significantly inhibited seed germination in spinach (65%), rice (11%) and wheat (7%). Euphorbia helioscopia exhibited a promotive effect on germination of spinach and rice, while suppressing seedling growth across all test species. All donor species, except Euphorbia prostrata, distinctly inhibited seedling development in rice. Moreover, Putranjiva roxburghii and Euphorbia milii demonstrated species-specific and concentration-dependent effects on both germination and seedling development. Current findings showed the inhibitory potential of Euphorbia helioscopia. These results suggest that the incorporation of such plant extracts into agricultural soils could exert either stimulatory or inhibitory influences, dependent upon the associated crop species. Therefore, a complete investigation regarding the effects of allelopathic species is needed before introducing them in agricultural practices.