Allelopathy, Chocolate weed, Germination, Melochia corchorifolia, Seedling vigour, Sesame, Weed ecolog

Severe infestation of  Melochia corchorifolia L. (Chocolate weed) in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) fields of Onattukara tract of Kerala, India evoked to conduct studies on the allelopathic effect of sesame  plant parts leachate and blended extract on the germination and seedling growth of M. corchorifolia. Results revealed that, the tested concentrations of sesame leachate and blended extract had stimulatory effect on germination and growth of this weed. Further, sesame leachate had higher stimulatory effect than blended extract on germination and seedling growth of M. corchorifolia. The highest concentration of sesame leachate (1:2.5 w/v) recorded the greatest stimulatory effect. The stimulatory effect of sesame leachate on the germination and growth of M. corchorifolia might be the reason for the severe infestation of Melochia corchorifolia in sesame fields.