Tree species as a potential source of bio-herbicides for controlling Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Abstract

To assess the herbicidal potential of Eugenia jambolana Lam., Ricinus communis L., Ziziphus jujuba L. and Ziziphus mauritiana L. against noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus L., germination bioassay using their 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% (w/v) and seedling growth bioassay using their 5% (w/v) (on dry weight basis) aqueous leaf extracts (ALE) were conducted. ALE of R. communis showed maximum reductions in germination percentage (79%), germination index (89%) and seedling biomass (88%) as well as maximum delays in mean germination time (211%) and time to 50% germination (265%) of parthenium whereas maximum reductions in its seedling length (47%) and seedling vigour index (97%) were shown by Z. mauritiana. Reciprocal dose–response relationship by probit regression analysis revealed that LC₅₀ values of R. communis and Z. mauritiana are 1.04% and 1.44%, respectively. Therefore, R. communis and Z. mauritiana are potential sources of bio-herbicides against this weed.

Keywords::

• bioassay
• germination and seedling growth
• Parthenium hysterophorus
• Eugenia jambolana
• Ricinus communis
• Ziziphus jujuba
• Ziziphus mauritiana