Global Journal of Molecular Sciences 4 (2): 91-95, 2009 ISSN 1990-9241 © IDOSI Publications, 2009 Corresponding Author: Dr. Sazada Siddiqui, Department of Botany, Institute of Basic Sciences, Bundelkhnad University, Jhansi, India 91 Allelopathic Potentialities of Different Concentration of Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Some Arable Trees on Germination and Radicle Growth of Cicer arietinum Var. – C-235. Sazada Siddiqui, Ruchi Yadav, Kavita Yadav, Feroze Ahmad Wani, 1 1 2 1 Mukesh K. Meghvansi, Sudarshana Sharma and Farah Jabeen 3 4 1 Department of Botany, Institute of Basic Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi - 284 128 U. P. India 1 Department of Botany, Plant physiology laboratory, Allahabad University, Allahabad U. P. India 2 Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, 3 Govt of India, Post Bag No. 2, Tezpur - 784 001 Assam, India Departmment of Biochemistry, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi - 284 128 U. P. India 4 Abstract: A laboratory experiment was conducted to assess the potential allelopathic effects of different concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts of Ficus infectoria, Emblica officinalis and Acacia leucophloea on germination and root elongation using leguminous crop Cicer arietinum L. as bioassay material. The experiments were conducted in sterilized petridishes. The effect of the different concentration of aqueous extracts was compared to distil water (control). The result revealed that different concentrations of Emblica officinalis and Acacia leucophloea extracts caused highly significant and significant inhibitory effect on germination and root elongation. Bioassays indicated that the inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts and higher concentration has the stronger inhibitory effect. The study also revealed that inhibitory effect was much pronounced in root development rather than seed germination. Key words: Emblica officinalis Acacia leucophloea Ficus infectoria Root length Germination INTRODUCTION release different amounts of the phytotoxins. Generally The term “allelopathy” signifies the interactions however, the toxic metabolites are also distributed in all between plants might lead to either stimulation or other plant parts in various concentration. inhibition of growth. Different groups of plants like ; Higher plants (tree crops) release some phytotoxins algae, lichens, crops and annual and perennial weeds into soil, which adversely affect the germination and yield have wide known allelopathic interactions [1-7] Several of crops [17]. Such type of tree crop interactions called phototoxic substances causing germination and/or phytochemical ecology/ecological biochemistry. growth inhibitions have been isolated from plant tissues Very few research have been done on the allelopathic and soils. These substances, collectively known as effect of Ficus infectoria, Emblica officinalis and Acacia allelochemicals, are usually secondary plant products leucophloea on crop so far. Therefore the experiment was or waste products of main metabolic pathways of plants conducted to explore the allelopathic effects of leaf [8-12]. extracts on Cicer arietinum. The effects of secondary substances released by these mechanisms can be long lasting (13) Patric, 1971) or MATERIALS AND METHODS quite transitory [14] and can ultimately influence practices like fertility, seeding and crop rotations. Ficus infectoria, Acacia leucophloea, Emblica The allelopathic effect are selective [15-16] and vary officinalis was considered as the donor plant and the with different trees since these plants will vary in the receptor agricultural crops selected was Indian Chickpea amount of indigenous secondary metabolites and would (Cicer arietinum L.). leaves are the most potent source of allelochemicals,