Sci. Agri. 20 (3), 2017: 81-85 © PSCI Publications Scientia Agriculturae www.pscipub.com/SA E-ISSN: 2310-953X / P-ISSN: 2311-0228 DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.SA.2017.20.3.8185 Proximate Composition And Preliminary Allelopathic Effect Of A Tropical Fern, Cyclosorus Afer On Oryza Sativa Akomolafe G. F 1* , Oloyede F. A 2 , Chukwu A.K 3 1. Department of Botany, Federal University Lafia, PMB 146, Lafia, Nigeria 2. Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria Paper Information A B S T R A C T Received: 2 April, 2017 Accepted: 13 August, 2017 Published: 11 November, 2017 Cyclosorus afer exhibit a strong mechanism of dominance in the areas in which they live. The objective of this research work is to evaluate proximate composition and allelopathic effect of C. afer on Oryza sativa. Proximate composition of C. afer frond and root was determined following standard methods. In order to determine the allelopathic effect, fresh frond and root extracts of C. afer was prepared as follows; 72 g of fresh sample of each of the selected plant part was washed, cut, grounded and soaked in 1000 ml of distilled water and subjected to filtration through sterilized Whatman no.1 filter paper. Five seed randomly selected were placed in each of 9 clean, oven dried Petri dishes which have been lined with filter paper. Measurements of the plumule and radicle were taken at regular time interval. The results showed that C. afer frond has a high percentage of carbohydrate 51.26%, protein 10.94%, Ether extract 20.00%, while roots of C. afer has a higher percentage of moisture content 4.75%, crude fiber 2.75% and Ash 15.00. The result also revealed that no extract significantly inhibited germination, but plumule length was stimulated positively in both treatments while also showing tendency of root inhibition. It was concluded that aqueous extract of C. afer has inhibitory effect pronounced in radicle growth of O. sativa seedling as well as stimulatory effect on the plumule length of same seedlings. Their low protein and Crude fiber content renders them inedible by herbivore and humans thereby dominating their natural habitats. © 2017 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved. Key words: Allelopathy; Fronds; Germination; Invasive; Proximate composition Introduction One of the greatest challenges in ecological studies is the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for successful plant invasion and dominance (Catford et al., 2009). The release of chemicals from some plant organs by a number of processes in simulated and natural conditions which could pose harmful or beneficial effect on neighboring plants is regarded as allelopathy (Ferguson and Rathinasabapathi, 2009). These chemicals do produce some changes in the environment directly through phytotoxicity, or indirectly by interfering with soil microbes (Einhelling, (1986), Cipollini et al., (2012), Kraus et al., (2003). Proximate composition of plants is referred to as the gross components (Protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash, etc.) of the plant rather than individual nutrients such as amino acid, fatty acids, monosaccharides and minerals (Prohp et al., 2006). Invasive plants have been reported to be one of the largest contributors to biodiversity loss all over the world. Cyclosorus afer (Christ.) Ching. have been found to have dominated some wetlands in Lafia, Nigeria displacing other plants from their natural habitats. This may pose a serious threat to biodiversity. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the potential allelopathic effects of this plant on some neighboring wetland plants by testing for the presence of allelopathic chemicals in the plant fronds and roots. Furthermore, negative allelopathic effects are important parts of plant defense against herbivore (Stamp, 2003) thereby creating the need for a proximate analysis of Cyclosorus afer. This study therefore aimed at investigating the proximate composition and allelopathic effects of C. afer on Oryza sativa Materials And Method Study Area and Sample Collection The study was carried out at Lafia, Nasarawa-State. Lafia is the capital of Nasarawa state and lies between latitude 8 o 25’40 o N to 8 o 34’15 o N and longitude 8 o 24’25 o E to 8 o 39’19 o E in the Guinea savannah region of northern Nigeria. Fronds and