Effect of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on Germination and Elongation of Onion (Allium cepa) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) has become an invasive woody plant in recent times in many part of the world affecting the agricultural productivity. Hence we carried out to evaluate the effect of P. hysterophorus on germination and elongation of Onion (Allium cepa) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The plant extract prepared by the extractions of 1,2,4,8, and 16 gram powder in a 400ml of distilled water were tested for their effects on seed germination and elongation of the test species. In the experiment about 10 seeds were planted in petridish in duplicates. The replicate was repeated twice and distilled water was used as control. When compared with the control group, seeds germination rate at lower concentration of the aqueous extract of part of Parthenium was slightly similar. At higher concentration (16mg/400ml); however, the rate of the germination as well as the rate of elongation was significantly decline. In a one most concentrated extract both seed germination and rate of elongation is not recognized at first day in this study. In addition, the study the biomass of the Bean and Onion at a concentration of 16gm/400 ml was found to be about 50% lesser than the control. Hence it could be concluded that, the Parthenium extracts contain allelopathic effect which could affect the seed germination and elongation of Onion and Bean.