STUDY OF HOMEOPATHIC DRUGS ON SEED GERMINATION AND FUNGAL GROWTH
ASMA HANIF AND SHAHNAZ DAWAR*
Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan *Corresponding author e-mail: shahnaz_dawar@yahoo.com
Abstract
In vitro, seeds of mung bean, sunflower, okra and mash bean were treated with homeopathic drugs namely Arnica montana and Thuja occidentalis (30C) were evaluated against root rot fungi. Different concentrations like 100, 75 and 50% v/v were tested to investigate seeds germination and inhibition of root rot fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Results indicated that treated seeds of mung bean, sunflower, okra and mash bean with pure homeopathic drugs (100% v/v) by A. montana and T. occidentalis (30C) showed complete germination (100%), greater root length and excellent inhibition of root infecting pathogens. However, tested seeds treated with 75 and 50% v/v concentrations (prepared from 30C) by homeopathic drugs, respectively recorded significant increase in germination, root length and maximum zone of inhibition.
Key words: Homeopathic drugs, Seed treatment, Concentrations, Germination, Inhibition of root rot fungi.