ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF LANTANA CAMARA AGAINST SELECTED WEEDS OF WHEAT CROP

The current study was aimed at screening allelopathic potential of Lantana camara L. against some noxious weeds (i.e.Phalaris minor, Avena fatua, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia helioscopia and Rumex dentatus) of wheat crop.The screening test of these weeds was carried out in laboratory on filter paper, soil and agar by three solvent extracts (viz., aqueous, hexane and methanolic) and sandwich method.The methanolic L. camara extract significantly suppressed germination percentage of E. helioscopia, P. minor R. dentatus and A. fatua measuring at 65%, 63%, 61% and 60%, respectively.Likewise, L. camara significantly suppressed radical length of A. fatua, P. minor and C. album with 54%, 53% and 52%, respectively compared to the control.Besides, plumule length of E. helioscopia, C. album, R. dentatus and A. fatua was also inhibited at 56%, 55%, 53% and 53%, respectively by L. camara methanolic extract.It can be concluded that L. camara methanolic extract significantly reduced seed germination, radical and plumule length of selected weeds and have potential to be used in further detailed evaluation for searching bioherbicide from this plant.