S. M. Alam1, S. A. Ala2, R.
Ansari1 and M. A. Khan1
1Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam,
Pakistan
2Department of Botany, University of Jamshoro,
Pakistan
Summary
Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) was evaluated for its
effect on germination and seedling growth of wheat, cv. Pavon.
Increasing leaf water extract of bermuda grass significantly
decreased the germination, shoot and root growth and the maximum
percent decreases in these parameters at the highest residue extract
level (2%) were 39, 68 and 83, respectively. It was concluded
that this weed does not seem to be beneficial to the growth of
wheat.
Key words: bermuda grass, leaf extract, weed, wheat
Introduction
Bermuda grass commonly known as Cynodon dactylon L. is a
perennial creeping grass and grows as a weed in cultivated and
non-cultivated lands, bunds and channels. It interferes with the
growth of crop and reduces their yield. Seed germination, root and
top growth of barley were inhibited when growing in soil that had
previously contained bermuda grass residues (Horowitz and Friedman,
1971). Castor, et al. (1984) in laboratory experiments showed
that root aqueous. extracts of bermuda grass inhibited germination of
rice seeds and the growth of aerial parts. The shoot and root litters
or their aqueous extracts and soil collected from bermuda grass
patches significantly reduced the germination, early growth biomass,
moisture and chlorophyll content of wheat, barley and maize crops
(Hussain and Khan 1988). Meissner et al. (1989) and
Montemurro (1988) have reported that growth pattern of young carrot,
cucumber, lettuce, maize, squash, onion, radish, sunflower and tomato
plants were affected when grown in Cynodon dactylon infested
soil. The present investigation was therefore, conducted to envisage
the effect of aqueous leaf extract of bermuda grass on germination
and seedling growth of wheat.
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