Allelopathy Journal

In Petridish bioassays, the inhibitory potential of aqueous leachates from roots, stems and leaves of Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) R. King & H. Robinson was studied on the gametophyte development of Pteris finotii Christ. All leachates inhibited the spore germination and growth of first rhizoid of P. finotii and inhibitory effects increased with increasing leachate concentrations. The various leachates and their moderate and higher concentrations influenced the germination of P. finotti. Root leachates proved most inhibitory. The increasing concentrations of root leachates also delayed the stages of gametophyte development. The application of stem and leaf leachates and lower concentrations (5 and 10%) of root leachates on spores did not show morphological differences in gametophytes. However, 20, 30, 40 and 50% root leachates altered the gametophyte morphology. Thus A. adenophora inhibited the gametophyte development of P. finotii and the root leachates were most inhibitory.