Allelopathy Journal

We screened 20 chilli varieties for their alleopathic potential against 7 major summer weeds [Cyperus rotundus L., Cynodon dactylon Pers., Portulaca oleracea L., Euphorbia hirta L., Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link., Trianthema portulacastrum L. and Digitaria sanguinalis (Link.) Scop]. All chilli genotypes significantly reduced the weeds population (17.70–62.55%) and growth (9.06–52.80%) of test weed spp. Of the 20 varieties, ‘Maharastra local’ proved most inhibitory, it caused 62.55% inhibition in weed density and 52.80% in weed biomass. While LCA-312, was least allelopathic cultivar and reduced the weed density and weed growth by 17.70% and 9.08% respectively. Chilli varieties differed significantly in their allelopathic potential against weeds, suggesting that allelopathy is an inherited trait. Eight chilli varieties (Maharastra local, ARCH-236, Suryamukhi, Nagpur-5, Salem local, G₄, Guntur II and Byadgi) significantly suppressed the weeds. Cv. Maharastra local was the best, not only for chillies yield but also for non-herbicidal weed management in organic farming.