Abstract

The allelopathic effect of medicinal plants, viz., Acorus calamus, Aloe barbadensis, Andrographis paniculate, Asparagus racemosus, Cyperus scariosus, Plumbago zeylanica and Rauvolfia serpentina was observed on Mulberry (Morus alba Linn.). Twenty five cuttings of S-146 variety of Mulberry were soaked for 48 hours in 10% aqueous extract of seven-nine month old dried roots of all the medicinal plants in three replication each and then the treated cuttings were transplanted in the nursery bed and irrigated regularly. The cuttings of each treatment were subsequently observed after two months for their survival and number of sproutings. The survival per cent of cuttings in different treatments varied from 76-96% against 81% in control. There was no significant difference between treated cuttings and cuttings of control barring Aloe barbadensis treated with respect to their survival. Average sprouting was 1.36 to 1.67 in treated against 1.31 in control cuttings. Hence, these medicinal plants do not seem to exert any harmful effect on survival of Mulberry cuttings and may be successfully grown as intercrops along with Mulberry plants in sericultural gardens to enhance the income of farmers.

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