Control of Weed Parthenium Hysterophorus L. by Inhibiting Pollen Germination and Pollen Tube Growth

The Parthenium hysterophorus weed is known to cause tremendous health hazards. The pollen grains of the weed are highly allergenic, float freely in the air causing pollution and severe allergic diseases like asthma, dermatitis and fever. The weed has aroused human dislike and attempts are being made for its eradication or control, because it competes with more desirable plants growing naturally. Considering immense importance of the plant with regard to allergenicity of pollen grains, in present study effort has been made to study effect of different weedicides, namely 2, 4 – D, hiltaklor, goal, stomp and glyphosate were studied on in vitro germination of pollen grains and pollen tube length. Observations and results showed that among all the weedicides glyphosate was the most efficient to inhibit the germination of pollen and tube growth followed by goal, stomp, hiltaklor and 2, 4 – D. 2, 4 – D, goal and glyphosate showed stimulatory effect on pollen germination and tube growth at lower concentrations and it gradually inhibit pollen germination at higher concentrations. The lethal doses for 2, 4 – D and glyphosate were 300 and 25 ppm and for hiltaklor, goal, stomp were 100 ppm respectively. Thus, it was evident from the results that all weedicides (except 2, 4 – D) were required in small traces to inhibit the pollen germination and tube growth. Lethal dose used in above study could be used for complete eradication of the weed.