Allelopathic effect of Anogeissus pendula Edgew. and Grewia flavescens A.Juss on Desmodium species in Alwar district of Rajasthan

Abstract

The effect of leaf leachates of Anogeissus pendula Edgew. and Grewia flavescens A.Juss was evaluated on growth of the three species of Desmodium in Alwar district of Rajasthan (27{degrees}4 to 28{degrees}4 N and 76{degrees}7 to 77{degrees}13 E). Anogeissus pendula reduced the seed germination of Desmodium repandum from 85% in control to 43% at 2% concentration, Desmodium gangeticum from 80% in control to 50% at 6% concentration and Desmodium triflorum from 78% in control to 28% at 0.1% concentration of leaf leachates. Similarly, the leaf leachates of Grewia flavescens reduced the seed germination of Desmodium repandum from 85% in control to 40% at 2% concentration, Desmodium gangeticum from 80% in control to 50% even at 0.1% concentration and Desmodium triflorum from 78% in control to 21% at 0.5% concentration. The leaf leachates of both the species also reduced the elongation of radicle and plumule of three Desmodium species; however, the adverse effect of leaf leachate of Grewia flavescens was more severe than that of the other species. Among the three Desmodium species, the allelopathic effect of Grewia flavescens and Anogeissus pendula was more severe on Desmodium triflorum as compared to the other two species. It may be suggested that the population of three species of Desmodium is partly regualated by the allelopathic effect of Anogeissus pendula and Grewia flavescens in this tropical dry deciduous forest.