The allelopathic effects of crude water extracts of <i>Annona muricata</i> on common weeds

Abstract

Annona muricata (sour sop) belongs to the family Annonaceae. This plant inhibits the growth of other plants growing around it, a phenomenon called “allelopathic effect”. Allelopathy is the production of specific biomolecules by plant species mostly secondary metabolites that can induce suffering or give benefit to other plant specie around it. Crude water extraction of the leaves stems and roots of Annona muricata were applied on common weeds in three different locations marked as areas A, B and C respectively and the morphological and physiological effects of the application on the common weeds observed and recorded. The outcome of this research work showed that extracts from all the parts of the plant inhibit the growth and development of other plant species such as phyllantus spps, Panicum maximum, Tridax procumbens etc. The absorption of the extracts through the roots of such plants affected their physiological processes such as photosynthetic, respiratory and transpiratory rates, stomatal closure as well as reduced chlorophyll content leading to wilting, maceration of tissues, stunted growth and finally death of the affected plants.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 341-344