THE ALLELOPATHIC EFFECT OF SHREDDED LEAVES OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS AND A. ALTILIS ON VIGNA RADIATA L

In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the effect of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. and Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg on seed germination, seedling growth and total phenolic content of Vigna radiata L. The objective of this study is to assess the rate of germination, growth of the seedlings and the chlorophyll content of the cultivar seeds exposed to four concentrations (10 ppm, 1 ppm, 0.1 ppm and 0.01 ppm) of the leaf extracts of A. heterophyllus and A. altilis. In general the seeds of Vigna radiata showed a slight decrease in germination rate, radicle elongation, plumule growth, phenol and chlorophyll content at 10 ppm concentration of the leaf extracts which was more pronounced in Artocarpus heterophyllus was when compared to A. altilis. The total chlorophyll content showed a decrease with increasing concentrations of the leaf extracts. The highest concentrations (10ppm) delayed germination but lower concentrations had no effect or were stimulatory The total phenolics in the extracts of the two species of Artocarpus recorded the highest in the methanolic extracts in Artocarpus heterophyllus . The aqueous leaf extracts of the tested tree species possessed phytotoxic properties and could be exploited in practical applications as an organic herbicide.