Growth Response of Seedlings of Zea Mays (L.) to Aqueous Extract of Lycopodium Clavatum (L.)

Natural selection is a phenomenon, which allows nature to select at any point in time the structure and number of organism living in a particular habitat [1]. This competitive tendency has been shown and reported by several authors Bonner [2], Grummer et al. [3], Evenari (1961), Whittaker [4], Putman and Duke [5], and Fischer et al. [6]. Allelopathic behaviour can best be described as direct or indirect effects of compound resulting from organism, which may have inhibitory or stimulatory effects on the same or other organisms. In this process, synthesis of biologically active molecules produced by plant and their residue may be converted to other forms and influenced the growth of similar or non-similar plants [7]. The earliest writings on this topic are attributed to Theophrastus (ca.300 B.C), a successor of Aristotle who noticed the harmful effects of cabbage on a vine and suggested that such effects were caused by odours from the cabbage plants. This phenomenon is known as allelopathy (from the Greek allelon = of each other, pathós = to suffer). The term, Allelopathy was first introduced by Molich in 1937. He defined it as reciprocal effects of biochemical compounds among all plants and microorganism. Typical allelopathic inhibitory effects result from the action of groups of allelochemicals that collectively interfere in various physiological processes altering the growth patterns of plants [8-10]. Allelochemicals may be involved in plant-plant, plantinsect or plant-herbivore chemical communication [11] as well as microorganism-derived allelochemicals that may be involved in microbe-microbe or microbe-plant interactions (e.g., colonisation process of a new environment) [12]. The inhibition of root growth and development by allelochemicals can be due to changes in DNA synthesis in cells of apical root meristem, alteration of the mitochondrial metabolism [13] or changes in cell mitotic indices [14-17]. L. clavatum, commonly known as Club moss, Clubfoot Moss, Foxtail, Ground Pine, Sulfer or Wolf’s Claw is one of the most widespread species belonging to family Lycopodiaceae. It is a pteridophyte which is abundantly found in tropical, subtropical and in many European countries. Clubmoss is used in homeopathy for treatments of aneurisms, constipation, chronic lung and bronchial disorders, fevers. It also reduces gastric inflammations, simplifies digestion and helps in treatments of chronic kidney disorders (Zimudzi and Bosch 2007). Maize has become a staple food in many parts of the world, with total production surpassing that of wheat or rice. However, not all of this maize is consumed directly by humans. Some of the maize production is used for corn ethanol, animal feed and other maize products, such as corn starch and corn syrup. The six major types of corn are dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn [18].