PHYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF TECTONA GRANDIS(L.f.) LEAF EXTRACTS ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES OF PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R.BR. AND ELEUSINE CORACANA (Gaertn)

Abstract

The present study investigates the  growth  and developmental changes  of Pearlmillet [(Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.)] and Ragi [Eleusine coracana (Gaertn )] under pot culture experiments  with different concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts (5, 10, 20, 30 and 50g/l) of Teak.  Teak leaf extracts showed an inhibitory and stimulatory effects on germination, seedling length, biomass, pigments and biochemical constituents of pearl millet and ragi.  The 5g/l concentration of extract stimulated the seed germination, seedling growth and biochemical constituents of pearl millet and ragi.. The  higher concentrations (10, 20, 30and 50g/l) showed  an  inhibitory  effects in all the parameters studied in the two economically important cereals. The degree of retardation was dependent on the concentration of the Teak leaf extracts. Root length, Shoot length, Biomass and  Biochemical constituents of ragi seedlings were highly  reduced  at 50g/l concentrations of aqueous leaf  extracts of Teak. Between   pearl millet and ragi seedlings, more allelopathic influence was observed in ragi than pearl millet seedlings.