Abstract

ALLELOPATHY EFFECT OF STRAGGLER DAISY (AN EMERGING AGGRESSIVE INVASIVE WEED) ON ITS ASSOCIATED FLORA

*Kavitha Sagar

Abstract

Root, stem and leaves extracts of stragler daisy (Calyptocarpus vialis Less.) were prepared in water, ethyl acetate, methanol and chloroform in order to study the allelopathy effects on beggar’s ticker (Bidens pilosa) and cinderella weed (Synedrella vialis). Different concentrations viz., 1%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% and 12% were prepared for the study. Even at low concentrations i.e. 1 and 2% of straggler daisy also there was very meager rate of germination noticed in both the plant species. At higher concentrations i.e. 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% and 12% there were nil rather only one or two seeds were seen with very short radical at the end of two weeks study. This clearly reveals the strong allelopathy effects of aqueous root and leaves extracts of C. vialis on B. pilosa and S. nodiflora. Further, it is suggested that more emphasis has to be done on cost effective control measures of this emerging and aggressive herbaceous weed. Avenues of future research may be usage of herbicides with mixture of molecular targeting components, which may definitely inhibit the growth of straggler daisy and thus prevent the loss of native herbaceous flora.

Keywords: Allelopathy, straggler daisy, Beggar’s ticker, Cinderella weed.