Phytotoxic effects of sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.) extracts on germination and seedling growth of commercial crop plants

Abstract

The study pertains to the exploration of the phytot oxic (allelopathic) potential of aqueous extracts d erived from leaf, root and seeds of Ocimum on some commercially impor tant agricultural crops like wheat, gram lentil, mu stard, barley ,okra and pea, in terms of seed germination, root and shoot elongation. The inhibitory effect w as exhibited by all the extracts with maximum in leaf followed by r oot and seed extract. In barley, the germination in hibition was 100%, 80% and 60% respectively by leaf, root and se ed. Further, Ocimum extracts significantly affect tand shoot elongation of all the test crops. The maximum root and shoot growth was retarded by leaf extract s. The trends was okra > barley > mustard > maize > wheat > pea > lentil > gram and okra > maize > barley > Gram > w heat > lentil > mustard > pea, respectively in leaf extr act. These results provide evidence of differential allelopathic effects as well as providing preliminary evidence o f some allelopathic potential of Ocimum plant.