ABSTRACT: Metabolites of Aspergillus niger, prepared in malt extract (ME) broth and potato dextrose (PD) broth, were evaluated for their herbicidal activity against a noxious parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus). In laboratory assays, original (X) and diluted (½ X) fungal metabolites significantly reduced germination and seedling growth of weed. However, metabolites prepared in ME broth proved to have greater herbicidal activity than metabolites prepared in other growth medium. Original

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... tabolites prepared in ME broth have completely hinder the germination of parthenium seeds; while those prepared in PD broth have reduced germination by 89% over control. In pot trials, one-week, two-week and three-week-old parthenium seedlings were sprayed three times with original and concentrated (2X) metabolites of A. niger prepared in ME broth. Plants were harvested after 40 days of sowing. One-week treatment plants were most susceptible to fungal metabolites spray, followed by two-week and three-week treatment plants, respectively. Original and concentrated metabolites have significantly reduced shoot biomass of one-week-old plants by 57% and 68%, and root biomass by 50% and 75%, respectively. The present study has come to the conclusion that A. niger metabolites prepared in ME broth can effectively control germination and growth of parthenium.