ALLELOPHATIC EFFECT OF PROSOPIS AFRICANA (GUILL AND PER) TAUB POD POWDER ON THE GERMINATION INDICES OF THREE VARIETIES OF ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) MOENCH

Abstract

The release of certain chemicals by plants has been found to significantly affect different facets of other plant life cycles, from germination through to reproduction. The study was carried out to investigate the allelopathic effect of Prosopis Africana pod powder on the germination, growth and yield attributes of three varieties of Abelmoschus esculentum. Germination indices such as germination percentage, germination rate and germination index were evaluated. Growth parameters namely; number of leaves, plant height, stem girth and leaf area were also assessed. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 16.0 version. Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to separate mean differences (P<0.05). Results revealed that the highest germination percentage, index and rate values were recorded for variety Yellen (100%, 3.447 and 0.5), respectively when treated with Prosopis Africana pod powder extract. Highest germination index values were recorded in okra varieties Yellen, Clemson spineless and NHAe when treated with 40, 60 and 40 g of the pod extract (3.447, 3.057 and 3.39) respectively. Least germination percentage, and germination index recorded in okra variety Clemson spineless and NHAe (7.22% and 0.39) respectively. Administration of 80 and 100 g of the Prosopis Africana pod powder extract resulted in a detrimental effect on the three okra varieties, thus concluded allelopathic at these concentrations.