1Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala695522, India
2OFR Centre, Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station, KAU, Kayamkulam, Kerala686582, India
3Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station, KAU, Kayamkulam, Kerala690502, India
*Corresponding author email: sheeja.raj@kau.in
Online Published on 19 November, 2022.
Severe infestation of Melochia corchorifolia L. (Chocolate weed) in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) fields of Onattukara tract of Kerala, India evoked to conduct studies on the allelopathic effect of sesame plant parts leachate and blended extract on the germination and seedling growth of M. corchorifolia. Results revealed that, the tested concentrations of sesame leachate and blended extract had stimulatory effect on germination and growth of this weed. Further, sesame leachate had higher stimulatory effect than blended extract on germination and seedling growth of M. corchorifolia. The highest concentration of sesame leachate (1:2.5 w/v) recorded the greatest stimulatory effect. The stimulatory effect of sesame leachate on the germination and growth of M. corchorifolia might be the reason for the severe infestation of Melochia corchorifolia in sesame fields.
Allelopathy, Chocolate weed, Germination, Melochia corchorifolia, Seedling vigour, Sesame, Weed ecology
