EXPLORING MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS VARIATION IN GOMPHRENA GLOBOSA: A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Gomphrena globosa L. is a weed threatening important crops like wheat, maize, rice, sugarcane, and cotton. It competes with these crops for resources such as water, minerals, and nutrients, reducing crop yield. To address this problem, a study was conducted to examine the characteristics of Gomphrena globosa in three environments. The findings showed a positive relationship between traits studied, including height, weight (dry and fresh), leaf area, leaf length, width, and root length. Interestingly, the plant leaves' width stood out as the factor contributing to its overall height. Location two was identified as favorable for the growth and development of Gomphrena globosa plants. To minimize losses in crop yield caused by this weed species, removing or controlling Gomphrena globosa populations is recommended while emphasizing effective population management techniques.