ALLELOPATHIC EFFECT OF KALMEGH SEED EXTRACT OVER VARIOUS CEREAL AND PULSE SEED GERMINATION BECOMES BENEFICIAL IF DILUTED

摘要

Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) is a well proved medicinal herb in homoeopathic and ayurvedic medicinal system. There is high demand for this medicinal herb in market but it faces seed germination problem may be due to presence of some germination inhibitors in seed. Observing its medicinal efficacy against various human diseases attempts have been made to use it as plant disease curing medicine by several researchers. Taking the above in view we tried to find it out whether any germination inhibiting ability is there in crude seed extract of kalmegh over other crop seeds or not and then the extract gradually made diluted following the decicimal method as described by HPI (Homoeopathic Pharmacopia of India) upto 10th level of dilution to observe its effect over seed germination and seedling behavior of the same crop seeds (Rice, Wheat, Gram, Lentil and Moong) in laboratory conditions. Result shows that germinations were completely blocked in case of pulses where as the rate and percentage were decreased in cereals. Dilutions affected the germination and seedling properties positively, increased seedling vigor and viability over control.