Abstract Crop plants release biochemicals into surrounding environment that help in obtaining maximum yield of crop by acting bioherbicide at high concentration and plant growth hormone at low concentration. Therefore, this study was planned at Department of Agronomy in Weed Science Laboratory, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Winter 2018 to evaluate the hermetic effects of Althaea officinalis L. (khatami) on vegetable crop Radish (Raphanus sativus) The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design (CRD) having three replications. The aqueous extracts of A. officinalis L. were used on radish different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). Data regarding seed germination and seedling growth (shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root dry weigh) of radish were recorded using standard procedures. Results Reveals that the aqueous extract of A. officinalis at higher concentration (80%) act as bioherbicide and produced inhibitory effects on R. sativus result in Maximum time to 50% germination (4.68 days) and mean germination time (9.05 days) while minimum germination index (3.60), germination percentage (85.00%), shoot length (42.4 cm), root length (25.90 cm), shoot fresh weight (53.30 g) and root fresh weight (13.30 g). While at lower concentration (10%) it shows hermetic effect and produce maximum germination percentage (100.00%), shoot length (58.2 cm), root length (52.0 cm), shoot fresh weight (90.00g), root fresh weight (26.30 g) minimum time to complete 50% germination (3.36 days), germination index (6.00%) and mean germination time (5.73 days) growth. In A. officinalis among different phenolic compound minimum Syringic acid (0.60%) and maximum Quercetion (12.3%) compound was found. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that aqueous extract of officinalis can be used as growth promoter at lower concentration while at higher concentration for environmentally friendly control of weeds.
A, The EXPLORING THE ALLELOPATHIC AND HERMETIC EFFECT OF KHATAMI (Altheae officinalis) ON EMERGENCE AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF RADISH (Raphanus sativus)