Allelopathy—a natural alternative for weed control

Abstract

Allelopathy studies the interactions among plants, fungi, algae and bacteria with the organisms living in a certain ecosystem, interactions that are mediated by the secondary metabolites produced and exuded into the environment. Consequently, allelopathy is a multidisciplinary science where ecologists, chemists, soil scientists, agronomists, biologists, plant physiologists and molecular biologists offer their skills to give an overall view of the complex interactions occurring in a certain ecosystem. As a result of these studies, applications in weed and pest management are expected in such different fields as development of new agrochemicals, cultural methods, developing of allelopathic crops with increased weed resistance, etc. The present paper will focus on the chemical aspects of allelopathy, pointing out the most recent advances in the chemicals disclosed, their mode of action and their fate in the ecosystem. Also, attention will be paid to achievements in genomics and proteomics, two emerging fields in allelopathy. Rather than being exhaustive, this paper is intended to reflect a critical vision of the current state of allelopathy and to point to future lines of research where in the authors' opinion the main advances and applications could and should be expected.

Benzoxazinoid Metabolites Regulate Innate Immunity against Aphids and Fungi in Maize

“…6). Since DIMBOA and HDMBOA-glc are both degraded into MBOA and BOA (Maresh et al, 2006;Macías et al, 2007), it can be concluded that extracellular DIMBOA, rather than its successive breakdown products, is responsible for the regulation of callose deposition and Bx gene expression (Fig. 9).…”

Plants Release Precursors of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors to Suppress Growth of Competitors

“…Many plant species produce and release allelochemicals, bioactive secondary metabolites that can inhibit germination or growth of neighboring plants (Belz, 2007;Macías et al, 2007). Such chemical clashes are generally referred to as "allelopathy" (Molisch, 1937).…”

Allelopathy: driving mechanisms governing its activity in agriculture

“…Some cultivars possessed a high ability to reduce weed infestation, and subsequently, allowed the identification of some genes involved in rice allelopathy (Jensen et al 2001). An alternative to this approach is the use of molecular markers associated with allelopathic traits, such as genes encoding the synthesis of allelochemicals (Macías et al 2007). Advances have been made in identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) in wheat and rice, although our knowledge remains incomplete.…”