Effect of leaf and root extracts of selected weed species on seed germination and seedling growth in Mung bean

The present investigation was attempted to focus on studies of allelopathic effect of some dominant, invasive weed species like Alternanthera tenella Colla., Croton bonplandianum Baill and Xanthium indicum Koen. from Baramati Tahsil, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra, India, on seed germination and seedling growth in mung bean. The allelopathic effects of leaf extracts of weeds not only affect the seed germination, but it also influences seedling growth in terms of root and shoot length, vigour index. The results on mung bean seed germination studies indicated that the lower concentration (10%) treatments of Alternanthera and Xanthium leaf and root extract were highly stimulatory for mung bean seed germination as well as root and shoot length. However, the treatments of Croton root and leaf extracts were highly inhibitory. The effects of leaf extract were more significant than root extract. The positive and negative influence of root and leaf extracts of selected weeds on root and shoot length might be due to specific action of secondary metabolites (allelochemicals) in them.