Microcosm Study to Assess Allelochemical Potential of Lantana camara on Lactuca sativa

The allelopathic potential of Lantana camara can be deleterious to native diversity and productivity of food crops. The present study aimed to assess the allelopathic potential of L. camara on the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa through bioassay method. Two pots i.e., control (P₁) and experimental (P₂) were taken for microcosm studies with healthy and L. camara invaded soil, respectively. There were differential germination percentage (P₂ -80%, P₁ -93.33%), germination potential (P_2- 0.86, P_1- 0.93), germination index (P_2- 4.33, P_1- 4.66), and germination rate index (P_2- 346.66, P_1- 435.55). The allelochemicals from L. camara adversely influenced the seed germination. However, the growth parameters such as seedling height (32.35cm), root/shoot length (4.75cm/27.6cm), and seedling biomass (1.559g) were higher in L. sativa . Thus, L. camara exhibited stimulatory as inhibitory effects on L. sativa . However, further studies are warranted for explicit elucidation of chemical ecology and allelopathic effects of L. camara.