Effects of Eichhornia crassipes extract on germination and early seedling growth of Pennisetum typhoides

Water hyacinth (Eichhomia crassipes) is a cosmopolitan noxious aquatic weed. The plant is known to absorb and accumulate heavy metals from sewage and blackish water. It is impossible to remove it completely from environment because water hyacinth is fastest growing weed and seed can germinate after twenty years. In present paper the phytotoxic effect of Eichhomia crassipes extract on germination and early seedling growth of Pennisetum typhoides have been given. Germinating seeds of Pennisetum typhoides is treated with aqueous Eichhomia crassipes extract and observations of early seedling growth for different time durations (24-72hrs) and various concentrations (5%-40%) is observed to monitor the phytotoxicity. The increase in the root and shoot lengths of Pennisetum typhoides at lower cone. (upto 20%) and shoot growth is more reduced at higher concentration are recorded. The phytotoxicity may be related to mitostatic and cytotoxic activity of extract.