Growth and invasive capacity of Parthenium hysterophorus L. under different biotic and abiotic conditions in Malaysia

Parthenium hysterophorus L., is an invasive weed of the family Asteraceae of global concern. It gives significant economic impacts on crop and livestock productions. Although several studies have been undertaken to determine the distribution and ecological impacts of Parthenium weed in Malaysia, they are only in limited areas such as in Kedah and Selangor. Despite numerous studies on Parthenium weed in other countries are available, a very limited initiative has been taken to investigate this weed in Malaysia despite widespread of this invasive plant in many states in the Peninsular Malaysia. Considering the urgency of the problem, a proper study needs to be taken to elucidate the Parthenium weed biology and ecology under different conditions. The Parthenium seeds used in this study originated from the population in Sg. Siput, Perak. Experiments consisted of performance and suppression ability of the weed towards okra, sweet corn, oil palm and aerobic rice were carried out by testing different Parthenium weed densities of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeds per 0.4 m2 . Results showed that the suppression of Parthenium has not had give a big impact to the height of corn, oil palm and aerobic rice while gave significant reduction on okra. As the density of Parthenium weed increased to 8 weeds per 0.4 m2 , the dry weight of all crops decreased. Parthenium weed was able to grow under various combinations of shading percentage and period. It was able to achieve above 90% seeds germination at 30%, 50% and 70% of shading percentage during 8 weeks shading duration periods. The optimum condition for the Parthenium weed to grow was at 50% shade with shading period of 4 weeks of 100% daylight and 4 weeks of 50% shaded. In soil moisture condition, Parthenium weed was able to grow well under saturated soil followed by field capacity. However, no growth was recorded under drought and flooded soil. Concentration levels of NaCl were prepared to final concentration of 0, 8, 16, 24 dS m-1 in soil salinity test. Parthenium weed was able to germinate up to 69% in 8 dS m-1 and was significantly reduced as the salinity increased. Although the weed was still able to grow in 24 dS m-1 but it was greatly stunted. Parthenium also had the ability to grow under wide range of pH (4-8), although the most acidic-treated soil (pH 4.0-4.9) had significantly restricted the germination percentage and growth of Parthenium weed. Hence, this weed has the excellent ability to fully growth under various biotic and abiotic conditions in Malaysia. However, it can be a troublesome alien weed species if it is introduced or spreads more in crop fields and can cause an increase in management cost to prevent it. The most affected crop in crop-weed competition is okra followed by aerobic rice, sweet corn and oil palm.

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