PHYTOTOXICITY OF DIFFERENT AQUEOUS EXTRACT CONCENTRATIONS OF MESQUITE (PROSOPIS JULIFLORA) ON GERMINATION an‎d SEEDLING GROWTH OF WHEAT

The research trial was conducted under laboratory conditions at Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan in order to study phytotoxic effects of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) aqueous extract taken from its leaves, stem and root on germination and seedling growth of wheat. There were five treatments viz. 100g, 200g, 300g, and 400g aqueous leaves, stem and root extract of mesquite including tap water as control. It wasevident from the results that by using different concentrations of aqueous extract of mesquite, seed germination and seedling growth of wheat wereinhibited.The maximum reduction in germination and seedling growth was noted by applying higher concentration (400g) of aqueous extracts of mesquite. Hence, it is concluded that seed germination and seedling growth of wheat is inhibited due to presence of water soluble allelochemicals in aqueous leaves, stem and root extracts of mesquiteat 400 g for72 hours. These allelochemicals have negative effects on growth and development of wheat. It is,therefore, recommended not to cultivate wheat crop near the mesquite.