Allelopathic effects of Parthenium argentatum on seed germination and seedling growth of three plant species

Allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts and powder of different parts of Parthenium hysterophorus on seed germination and seedling growth of Abutilon theophrasti, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Raphanus sativus were evaluated either in petri dishes or a greenhouse. The results showed that the aqueous extracts of roots, stems, leaves and fruits all had negative effects on the seed germination and seedling growth of three tested plants, while the aqueous extracts from leaves and fruits had higher inhibiting on the seed germination and seedling growth of all tested plants than those from roots and stems. A. theophrasti and R. sativus were more sensitive to the extracts than D. sanguinalis. This conclusion was also confirmed by testing seed germination and seedling growth of the three plants in the mixture of 25 g powder (from different parts of P. argentatum) with 1 kg soil in a greenhouse.