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Nanoherbicides are articulated by exploiting the prospective of nanotechnology for effectively delivering chemical and biological herbicides using nanomaterial‐based herbicide combinations. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction and FT-IR. On the targeted weeds, the nanoherbicides were sprayed at the third to fourth leaf stage. Six different doses were applied. The mortality and visual injury caused by both chitosan-based nanoherbicides reached 100% at the recommended dose of standard herbicide. The 5-fold lower dose exhibited weed density and maximum wheat yield and related parameters. For the same traits, the nanoherbicide at 10-fold lower dose of commercial herbicides showed a comparable influence as the suggested dose. The size of both herbicides was found to be 35–65 nm. It was observed that the clodinofop-propargyl nanoherbicide has an intense peak appearing at a 2θ value of 29.83°, corresponding to the (176) plane of the anatase phase and NPs of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl showed an intense peak around the 2θ value of 30.55° corresponding to the (74) plane of the anatase phase. The FT-IR spectra of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl clearly showed that the major functional groups were located in the FT-IR region between 610 and 1,840 cm−1 and the major functional ones of clodinofop propargyl were located in the FT-IR region between 640 and 1,740 cm−1. Nanoherbicides could restore the efficacy of conventional herbicides by improving stability and reducing toxicity.

Nanoherbicides are articulated by empowering the potential of nanotechnology for the efficacious delivery of chemical or biological herbicides with the aid of nanomaterial‐based herbicide combinations. Therefore, the goal of this work was to investigate the chitosan nanoparticles loaded with mesosulfuron methyl and mesosulfuron methyl + florasulam + (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) MCPA isooctyl herbicides as a possible environmentally benign substitute to manage weeds in wheat. Due to intriguing characteristics including biocompatibility, low allergenicity, biodegradability, and nontoxicity, chitosan biopolymers as sustainable chitin derivatives have received intense scrutiny in the biomedical business. The manufactured nanoparticles were characterized by using ultraviolet absorbance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The average particle size as revealed by SEM was 40–70 nm in a cluster form with the porous structure. The maximum absorption peaks of both nanoparticles of mesosulfuron methyl and mesosulfuron methyl + florasulam + MCPA isooctyl were 330 and 360 nm. The FT-IR analysis showed an intensive peak at 2θ value of 30.55° for mesosulfuron methyl and 32.79° for mesosulfuron methyl + florasula + MCPA isooctyl, which correspond to the 78 and 198 planes of the anatase phase, respectively. The nanoparticles were sprayed at the third to fourth leaf stages of the targeted weeds. Seven different doses were applied. A total of 100% mortality and visual injury were caused by the chitosan-based nanoparticles of both herbicides at the recommended dose of standard herbicide. The 5-fold lower dose showed the minimum chlorophyll content (5.75%), plant height (2.35 cm), fresh biomass (1.08 g), and dry biomass (0.33 g) of a weed mixture. For the same traits, the herbicide nanoparticles at 10-fold lower dose of commercial herbicides exhibited a similar effect as the recommended dose. Nanoherbicides could recuperate the conventional herbicide effectiveness by enhancing the stability and reducing the toxicity.

Phalaris minor is the main and troublesome weed of wheat all over the globe. Chemical weed control is a quick and effective method for weed management. However, herbicides are criticized for environmental pollution and the development of resistance in weeds. Therefore, the present study was planned for chemical synthesis, characterization, and dose optimization of chitosan-based nanoparticles of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl for the management of Phalaris minor grown in wheat. Chitosan-based nanoparticles of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl were prepared by the ionic gelification technique. The nanoparticles (NPs) of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl were sprayed at 3–4 leaf stage of the P. minor weed. Seven different doses (D0 = weedy check, D1 = normal herbicide at recommended dose, D2 = nano herbicide at the recommended dose of normal herbicide, D3 = 5-fold lower dose of nano herbicide, D4 = 10-fold lower dose of nano herbicide, D5 = 15-fold lower dose of nano herbicide, and D6 = 20-fold lower dose of nano herbicide) were used. Chitosan-based NPs of herbicides were characterized using UV absorbance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. SEM demonstrated particles in the cluster form with porous structure and the average size ranged from 30 to 60 nm. XRD results confirmed the existence of (2θ) peak at 29.79 related to 160 anatase form in the NPs of clodinofop propargyl and 24.65 related to 76 anatase form in the case of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl. The FT-IR analysis of chitosan-based NPs of both the herbicides perfectly matched the standard parameters. UV-visible spectra exhibited absorption peaks at 300 and 330 nm, for the NPs of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl and clodinofop, respectively. The chitosan-based particles of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl at the recommended dose of normal herbicide caused 100% mortality and visual injury. However, a 5-fold lower dose of chitosan-based NPs of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl caused the maximum visual injury (94.00%), mortality (93.75%), minimum chlorophyll contents (7.47%), plant height (cm), fresh biomass (0.27 g), and dry biomass (0.08 g) of P. minor. The chitosan-based NPs of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl at a 10-fold lower dose of normal herbicides and recommended dose produced a similar effect on the previously mentioned traits of P. minor.

Within the family Fabaceae, the genus Glycine is composed of two subgenera annuals (2n=40) and perennials. This life strategy transition may have differentially affected the evolution of various gene families. Its cultivated species G. max has high level of susceptibility to major pathogens including viruses, bacteria and fungi. Understanding nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes evolution in soybean is of paramount importance due to their central role in plant immunity and their potential in improving disease resistance in soybean cultivars. In this study, we investigated the significance of this annual-perennial transition on the macroevolution of NLR genes in the genus Glycine. Our results reveal a remarkable distinction between annual species such as Glycine max and Glycine soja, which exhibit an expanded NLRome compared to perennial species (G. cyrtoloba, G. stenophita, G. dolichocarpa, G. falcata, G. syndetika, G. latifolia and G. tomentella). Our evolutionary timescale analysis pinpoints recent accelerated gene duplication events for this expansion, which occurred between 0.1 and 0.5 million years ago, driven predominantly by lineage-specific and terminal duplications. In contrast, perennials initially experienced significant contraction during the diploidisation phase following the Glycine-specific whole-genome duplication event (-10 million years ago). Despite the reduction in the NLRome, perennial lineages exhibit a unique and highly diversified repertoire of NLR genes with limited interspecies synteny. The investigation of gene gain and loss ratios revealed that this diversification resulted from the birth of novel genes following individual speciation events. Among perennials, G. latifolia, a well-known resistance resource, has the highest ratio of these novel genes in the tertiary gene pool. Our study suggests evolutionary mechanisms, including recombination and transposition, as potential drivers for the emergence of these novel genes. This study also provides evidence for the unbalanced expansion of the NLRome in the Dt subgenome compared with the At subgenome in the young allopolyploid G. dolichocarpa. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of annuality and perenniality life transition on the evolution of NLR genes in the genus Glycine to identify its genomics resources for improving the resistance of soybean crop with global importance on the economy and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient deficiency (manganese, copper, zinc, iron and boron) appears to have become more prevalent in crops in recent years. A field experiment was carried out to examine the response of application of foliar commercial micro-nutrients mixture Uni Micropower? (zinc 4.7%, iron 2%, manganese 2%, boron 1.0% and copper 0.3%) on wheat in 2015-16. Treatments included, control and Uni Micropower spray at tillering, jointing, booting, milking, tillering + jointing, tillering + booting, tillering + milking, jointing + booting, jointing + milking, booting + milking, tillering + jointing + booting, tillering + jointing + milking, tillering + booting + milking and tillering + jointing + booting + milking stage. The results indicated that treatments significantly enhanced plant height, grains/spike, 1000 grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, harvest index, grain protein and carbohydrate contents. The maximum grain yield, quality and economic return were recorded when Uni Micropower sprays were applied at tillering, jointing, booting and milking stage. In conclusion, Uni Micropower foliar spray is helpful to improve the quality and production of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the allelopathic effect of aqueous extract of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) on seed germination and seedling growth of turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa). The experiments were conducted in a lab with completely randomized design (CRD). All analysis were run in four replicates. Different concentrations of aqueous extract of wild radish (0%, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12%) were applied on ten turnip seeds. Results showed that under control conditions, the range of emergence percentage, shoot length, root length, fresh biomass, dry biomass minimum time to start emergence, mean emergence time, and time to complete 50% emergence was 20% - 91%, 1.84 cm - 6.10 cm, 1.59 cm - 7.13 cm, 0.21 g - 1.43 g, 0.07 g - 0.48 g, 6.19 days - 2.86 days, 21.26 days - 8.24 days, 10.93 days - 4.10 days respectively. Hence, it is concluded that the wild radish extract put destructive effects on the emergence and seedling development of turnip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to identify the phenolic compounds and allelopathic effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra on germination and seedling growth Phalaris minor at Weed Science Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during winter 2018. The experiments were laid out under a completely randomized design (CRD), having three replicates. In this study seven different concentrations of Glycyrrhiza glabra aqueous extracts (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%) applied on winter weed P. minor. Data on regarding germination percentage (%), mean Germination time (days), time to 50% germination, root length (mm), shoot length (mm), root fresh weight (mg), shoot fresh weight was recorded following standard procedures. Data were analyzed using Fishers Analysis of Variance. The differences among treatments were separated using a least significant difference test (LSD). Results of the experiment revealed that maximum germination percentage (%), Mean Germination time (Days), Time to 50% germination and minimum, root length (mm), shoot length (mm), root fresh weight (mg), shoot fresh weight of P. minor was recorded at 80% concentration of G. glabra. From the present study, it is concluded that there are phenolic compounds in the wood extract of G. glabra which cause allelopathic effects on P. minor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical weed regulator process may source ecological hazards and produce residual effects in crops as well as in soil. Another method to switch weeds is accomplishment special treatment in bearable production scheme. Practice of liquid residue of produces is receiving systematic consideration as environmental substitute to copied weed-killer specifically below rapid scheme of growing herbicide refusal in the production of weeds. Therefore, current research was directed at Science Laboratory of weed, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during winter 2018 to determine the phytotoxic impact proceeding Glycyrrhiza glabra on winter vegetable crop Pisum sativum. The trials were placed out further down an entirely randomized plan, showing three replicates. Some experiments comprised of seven treatments with different concentrations of extract. The wood of G. glabra extracts comprised 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, and 80% concentration applied on P. sativum. Data on seed sprouting, the measurement of shoot and original mass of weed and pea was recorded following standard procedures. Data stayed investigated through Fishers Study of Variance. The differences among treatments were divided with the action of a least significant difference test (LSD). Results revealed that aqueous extracts were possessed phytotoxic chemicals that cause phytotoxic effect to P. sativum and result in maximum propagation ratio (%), Mean Sprouting period (Days), Period to 50% germination and minimum, the length of root (mm), shoot dimension (mm), root fresh weight (mg), shoot fresh weight was recorded at 80 % concentration of G. glabra. It is concluded that there are phenolic compounds in the wood extract of G. glabra which cause allelopathic effects on P. sativum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of crop-weed competition dynamics is necessary for implementation of cost-effective weed eradication strategy. To quantify yield loss and estimate critical competition period of weeds in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crop, two-year field study was executed at research area, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan during winter seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18). Treatments comprised of three row spacings viz., S1 = 15 cm, S2 = 20 cm and S3 = 25 cm and twelve crop-weed competition periods viz., weedy until 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 days and till harvesting and weed free until 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 days and till harvesting. Data indicated significant increases in plant height (5%), number of productive tillers count m-2 (2%), grain count per spike (7%), 1000-grain weight (9%), biological yield (7%) and grain yield (15%) of barley in 15 cm row spacing over the other row spacings. On the other hand, significant reduction in weed dry weight (4%) was recorded in 15 cm row spacing followed by 20 cm and 25 cm row spacings. Means data of both years showed that weed free until harvest had a significant improvement in plant height (20%), productive tiller m-2 (13%), grains per spike (57%), 1000-grain weight (67%), biological yield (27%) and grain yield (50%) compared to weedy until harvest. The logistic model supported the field study results and suggested that critical weed free period (CWFP) and critical time for weed removal (CTWR) for barley to avoid 10% yield losses were 73-74 days and 16-18 days after crop emergence (DAE). The model also predicted that wider crop row spacing resulted an extension of 1 day in in CTWR and CWFP for getting better crop yield while maintaining higher farmers' earning. To our cognizance, we are the first who established facts regarding the weed competition period under different row spacing's in barley crop in Pakistan other scientists could avail to develop efficacious weed management plans in other areas of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress is a major threat to global food production and its intensity is continuously increasing because of anthropogenic activities. Wheat is a staple food and a source of carbohydrates and calories for the majority of people across the globe. However, wheat productivity is adversely affected by salt stress, which is associated with a reduction in germination, growth, altered reproductive behavior and enzymatic activity, disrupted photosynthesis, hormonal imbalance, oxidative stress, and yield reductions. Thus, a better understanding of wheat (plant) behavior to salinity stress has essential implications to devise counter and alleviation measures to cope with salt stress. Different approaches including the selection of suitable cultivars, conventional breeding, and molecular techniques can be used for facing salt stress tolerance. However, these techniques are tedious, costly, and labor-intensive. Management practices are still helpful to improve the wheat performance under salinity stress. Use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and exogenous application of phytohormones, seed priming, and nutrient management are important tools to improve wheat performance under salinity stress. In this paper, we discussed the effect of salinity stress on the wheat crop, possible mechanisms to deal with salinity stress, and management options to improve wheat performance under salinity conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds are a major threat to global crop productivity and food security. Weeds compete with plants for applied inputs and resources and resultant cause a significant reduction in final productivity. A study was conducted during 2020-21 at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, comprised of two lentil cultivars and seven herbicides’ treatments arranged in RCBD design having 3 replications. According to the findings, maximum root fresh and dry weight (8.07,1.57g), shoot fresh and dry weight (20,5.28 g), plant height (62.05cm), pods/plant (67.83), grains/pod (2), 1000 seed weight (25.17g), grain yield (1934 kg ha-1) and biological yield (3730 kg ha-1) was recorded in manual weeding and lowest root fresh and dry weight (6.28, 1.57 g), shoot fresh and dry weights (12.33,3.99 g), plant height (44.58 cm), pods/plant (42.83), grains/pod (1.17), 1000 seed wt. (14.40 g), grain yield (1113 kg ha-1) and biological yield (2830 kg ha-1) was recorded in weedy check. In case of cultivars, Masoor-2020 had maximum root fresh and dry weights (7.90, 1.81 g), shoot fresh and dry weights(17.17,5.02 g), plant height (54.99 cm), pods/plant (60.43), grains/pod (1.67), 1000 seed weight (21.09 g), grain yield (1690 kg ha-1) and biological yield (3402 kg ha-1) while Masoor-2009 had minimum root fresh and dry weight (6.53,1.68 g), shoot fresh and dry weight (14.57,4.62 g), plant height (53.09 cm), pods/plant (48.76), grains/pod (1), 1000 seed weight (18.4 g), grain yield (1586 kg ha-1) and biological yield (3292 kg ha-1). Manual weeding resulted in lower weeds density and biomass while weedy check in maximum weed density and biomass. Thus, it is concluded that cultivar Masoor-2020 along with manual weeding and use of Pendimethalin + S. metolachlor can be adopted to get maximum lentil production under semi-arid conditions of Faisalabad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to identify plant species that have herbicidal potential so that their bio-extracts can be used as a safer and more effectual novel weed management factor. Therefore, proposed research was planned in Weed Science Laboratory at Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Winter 2018 to check out the allelopathic effects of Cinnamomumverum (Dalchini) on weed Wild Pea (Pisumsativum subsp. elatius) and determination and quantification Phenolic compound present in aqueous extract of bark of C. verum. The experiment was arranged under completely randomized design (CRD) having 3 replications. The aqueous extract of C. verum was utilized on wild pea seeds at separate concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). Data with regard to seed germination and seedling growth (shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root dry weigh) of weed was noted following standard procedures. C. verum extract at greater concentration act as bioherbicide and cause inhibitory effects on Pisumsativum subsp. elatius. And at low concentration it showed hermetic effect and enhanced the emergence and seedling growth. Among different Phenolic compound (Syringic acid, pcrumeic, Ferulic acid, Quercetion and Gallic acid) determine in aqueous extract of barck of C. verum. Maximum Quercetion (12.3 %) and minimum Syringic acid (0.60%) was found. Therefore, it was summarized from this study that aqueous extract of C. verummay be used as bioherbicide for biocontrol of weed at higher concentration (80 %) while at lower concentration (10%) as growth promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of sugarcane molasses on the silage quality of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum sudanense). To explore this objective Sorghum-sudangrass hybrid was harvested at the milking stage and well-chopped for making silage in the laboratory silos by using sugarcane molasses at the rate of 0, 1, 2, and 3%. Silage developed so, was analyzed for nutritive quality traits (dry matter, pH, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose, hemicelluloses and ash). Silage quality was also assessed by calculating digestible dry matter, dry matter intake, digestible energy, metabolizable energy and relative feed value. Flieg score was deliberated by using the pH and dry matter. The results of the research revealed that application of molasses improved dry matter (26.27%), crude protein (8.14) and ash contents (7.68) as compared to the control, but had lower values of pH (3.99), neutral detergent fiber (57.86), acid detergent fiber (30.74), lignin (3.72), cellulose (27.02) and hemicelluloses (27.13) in comparison with the untreated silage (control). Flieg score of treated silage was also in the category of very good. All these findings lead us to conclude that the silage quality of sorghum-sudangrass can be considerably improved by the use of sugarcane molasses as an additive. Molasses addition at a rate of 3% can improve the nutritive value of sorghum-sudangrass silage to the maximum extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop plants release biochemicals into surrounding environment that help in obtaining maximum yield of crop by acting as bioherbicide at high concentration and plant growth hormone at low concentration. Therefore, this study was planned at the Department of Agronomy in Weed Science Laboratory, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Winter season of 2018 to evaluate the hermetic effects of Cinnamomum verum (Dalchini) on vegetable crop radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and determination and quantification phenolic compound present in aqueous extract of bark of C. verum. The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design with three replications. The aqueous extracts of C. verum was used on radish seeds at different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). Data regarding seed germination and seedling growth (shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root dry weigh) of radish were recorded following standard procedures. Results of our study revealed that the higher concentration acted as bioherbicide and exhibited inhibitory effects on R. sativus while the low concentration it showed hermetic effect and promoted the seedling growth. Among different phenolic compound (syringic acid, p-crumeic, ferulic acid, quercetion and gallic acid) were determined in aqueous extract of bark of C. verum, maximum quercetion (12.3%) and minimum syringic acid (0.60%). It was concluded from this study that aqueous extract of C. verum can be used as bioherbicide at higher concentration to control weed while at low concentration as plant growth regulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants release biochemicals into surrounding environment that act as bioherbicide at high concentration and plant growth hormone at low concentration. Therefore, this study was planned at the Department of Agronomy in Weed Science Laboratory, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Winter 2018 to evaluate the allelopathic effects of A. officinalis on weed Wild Pea (Pisum sativum subsp. elatius). The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design (CRD) having three replications. The aqueous extracts of C. verum. were used on radish and wild pea seeds at different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). Data regarding seed germination and seedling growth (shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root dry weigh) of weed were recorded following standard procedures. Results Reveals that the aqueous extract of A. officinalis at higher concentration (80%) act as bioherbicide and produced inhibitory effects on R. sativus result in Maximum time to 50% germination (6.70 days) and mean germination time (10.00 days) while minimum germination index (4.70), germination percentage (66.60%), shoot length (49.8 cm), root length (8.16 cm), shoot fresh weight (10.00g) and root fresh weight (10.361g). While at lower concentration (10%) it shows hermetic effect and produce maximum germination percentage (90.00%), shoot length (84.7 cm), root length (66.2 cm), shoot fresh weight (82.20 g), root fresh weight (58.30 g) and germination index (8.21%) minimum time to complete 50% germination (4.33 days) and mean germination time (5.49 days) growth. In A. officinalis among different phenolic compound minimum Syringic acid (0.60%) and maximum Quercetion (12.3%) compound was found. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that aqueous extract of officinalis can be used as growth promoter at lower concentration as well as at higher concentration for environmentally friendly control of weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant release biochemicals into its surrounding environment that act as bioherbicide at high concentration and plant growth promoter at low concentration. Therefore, this study was planned at the Weed Science laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad-Pakistan, during winter 2018 to evaluate the hermetic effects of Althaea officinalis L. (Khatami) on Radish (Raphanus sativus). The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design (CRD) having three replications. The aqueous extracts of A. officinalis L. were used on radish at different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). Data regarding seed germination and seedling growth (shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root dry weigh) of radish were recorded using standard procedures. Results revealed that the aqueous extract of A. officinalis at higher concentration (80%) act as bioherbicide and produced inhibitory effects on R. sativus that resulted in maximum time to 50% germination (4.68 days) and mean germination time (9.05 days) while minimum germination index (3.60), germination percentage (85.00%), shoot length (42.4 cm), root length (25.90 cm), shoot fresh weight (53.30 g) and root fresh weight (13.30 g). While at lower concentration (10%) it showed hermetic effect and produced maximum germination percentage (100.00%), shoot length (58.2 cm), root length (52.0 cm), shoot fresh weight (90.00g), root fresh weight (26.30 g) minimum time to complete 50% germination (3.36 days), germination index (6.00%) and mean germination time (5.73 days) growth. In A. officinalis among different phenolic compound minimum Syringic acid (0.60%) and maximum Quercetion (12.3%) compound was found. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that aqueous extract of officinalis can be used as a growth promoter at lower concentration while as well as at higher concentration for environmentally friendly control of weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds are unwanted plants in crop that can be controlled by different methods among them use of aqueous extracts of crops is an imperative method. In this method allelochemicals present in crop plant help in suppressing or inhibiting weeds. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate the allopathic potential of aqueous extract of winter crop Papaver somniferum (opium) on summer weed Echinochloa cruss-galli (barnyard grass. The experiment comprised of seven concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4, and 8%) of different plant parts i.e., leaves, stem and flower of P. somniferumwere. All the tested concentrations and plant parts of P. somniferum significantly reduced mean emergence time, germination index, germination percentage, time to 50% germination as well as well growth of E. crussgalli weed. However, maximum mean emergence time (9.07 days), time to 50% germination (3.67 days) was noted by applying leaves and stem extract, respectively. Application of aqueous extract of stem at 8% concentration resulted in greatest time to complete 50% germination (5.42 days) and lowest fresh weight (6.28 g), dry weight (1.00 g) and root length (0.33 cm) of E. cruss-galli. Whereas leaf extract at 8% concentration produces less shoot length (1.13 cm) and more emergence time (9.18 days). Lowest emergence percentage (6.67%) and germination index (0.89) were produced by aqueous extract of fruit at 8% concentration. On the basis of this experiment, it can be concluded that higher concentration (8%) of stem extract of P. somniferum was used to biologically control the infestation of E. cruss-galli weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical weed control method caused environmental hazards and residual effects in crops and soil. Alternate approach to control weeds is getting attentions in sustainable production system. Use of aqueous extracts of weed is getting scientific attention as ecofriendly alternative to chemical herbicides especially under scenario of fast increasing herbicide resistance in weeds. To investigate the herbicidal potential of aqueous extract of winter weed of Sonchus oleraceus L. (sow thistle) on summer weed Oryza punctata L. (red rice) seed emergence and initial seedling growth, the present study was planned. In this study, seeds of O. punctata were incubated in seven concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4, and 8%) of different parts i.e. leaf, stem and flower of S. oleraceus. All the tested concentrations of various plant parts significantly inhibited the mean emergence time, emergence index, emergence percentage (%), time taken to 50% emergence as well as growth of O. punctata. However, maximum mean emergence time (5.26 days), minimum germination index (1.69), germination percentage (40%), root length (2.04 cm), shoot length (5.71 cm), fresh weight (59 g), dry weight (4.06 g) was noted at 8% concentration with fruit aqueous extract. Seeds of O. punctata took maximum time to complete 50% emergence (3.33 days) under control where we applied distilled water. Results suggested that the fruit extract of S. oleraceus at 8% concentration can be used potential bio-herbicide for the control of O. punctata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous extracts of plants are used to control weeds being inexpensive and environment friendly. Present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous extracts of Sonchus oleraceus L. on the red rice (Oryza punctata Kotschy ex Steud.) emergence and initial seedling growth. Treatments included in the study were aqueous extract of leaves, stem and fruit of Sonchus oleraceus at varying concentrations 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4 and 8 % (w/v) along with distilled water as a control. The allelochemicals present in the aqueous extracts showed stimulatory, inhibitory and hormetic responses depending upon the concentration and the plant part used for extraction. Results depicted maximum mean emergence time (5.26 days) and minimum germination index (1.67), germination percentage (40%), seedling fresh weight (59 g) and dry weight (8 g) of red rice with application of 8% aqueous extract of S. oleraceus fruit. However, 4% aqueous extract of S. oleraceus fruit produced minimum root length (5.71). On the basis of this experiment, it is concluded that 8% aqueous extract of S. oleraceus fruit can be used for controlling red rice weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]