Allelopathy application

Providing weed suppression through the use of allelopathic cover crops is an important method of weed control in organic farming and it is one of the best possibilities of allelopathy application (Sullivan 2003a). Besides, growing of cover... 

The latter problems are of particular interest to chemists, who should devise appropriate methods for resolving the complexity of chemicals, properly identifying them and finally determining their exact composition and makeup. The participation of chemists is needed to verify the concept of allelopathy as a concentration-dependent phenomenon. They should help to reconstitute the chemical composition as it was found in the original and isolated plant samples. This systematic approach leads to verification of the concept as well as to proper assessment of the initial observation with crude extracts, and to final application to the field situation. Once the concept is proven, same simulation experiments need to be performed to maximize the allelopathic effect (toxin action). The concentration of the toxic chemicals is varied to where the threshold levels of chemicals prove to be involved in the exhibition of allelopathy under field conditions. 

This approach has allowed us to characterize other antimicrobial substances as well (12-14). The application of a similarly designed procedure will facilitate Identification of substances in plants responsible for allelopathy. 

Lawrey, J. D. (1995). Lichen Allelopathy A Review. In Allelopathy Organisms, Processes and Applications. Inderjit, K. M. M. Dakshini, and F. A. Einhelling (eds), ACS Symposium Series. No. 582 26-38 American Chemical Society, Washington DC., USA. 

Roshchina, V.V. and Melnikova E.V. (1999). Microspectrofluorimetry of intact secreting cells with applications to the study of allelopathy. In Principles and Practices in Plant Ecology. Allelochemical Interactions. (Eds., Inderjit, K.M.M. Dakshini, C.L. Foy). pp 99-126. CRC Press. Boca Raton, USA. 

Other Possible Application of Allelopathy in Weed Management... 

Except direct use of allelopathic crops as cover crops, smother crops, and intercrops, applications of allelopathy for weed control include the use of allelopathic residues as an herbicide agent, e.g., pellets flours, water extracts, etc. The most common example of crop residue utilization is application of straw on the soil surface (mulching), e.g., rice straw inhibited germination of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), winter wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu), and little-seed canarygrass (Phalaris minor Retz.) (Lee et al. 1991 Tamak et al. 1994 Young et al. 1989). 

These days, allelopathic plants as catch crops or trap crops found utilization in plant protection of tropical regions against parasitic weeds. They do not eliminate the parasite completely but decrease the seed bank in the soil. Other applications of allelopathy for weed control include the use of plant residues as a natural herbicide agent, e.g., water extracts, pellets, flours, by-products of crop processing, etc. The strategies for use of volatile compounds as soil fumigants are developed. 

For next development of allelopathy utilization, especially such ways as breeding for stronger allelopathic potential is very hopeful. Hybridization could be a promising method of breeding. However, allelopathic activity was identified as a quantitative trait and therefore this characteristic is affected by both genetic effects and environmental conditions. The main disadvantage of the application of allelopathy is considerable variability in the dependence on environment. Therefore all results achieved in laboratory should be compared with effects of allelopathic crops in field conditions. 

Chou CH (1995) Allelopathy and sustainable agriculture. In Inderjit KM, Dakshini M, Einhellig FA (eds) Processes and applications. ACS symposium Series 582, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp 211-223... 

Xiong J, Jia XL, Deng J, Jiang B, He F, Lin W (2007) Analysis of epistatic effect and QTL interactions with environment for allelopathy in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Allelopathy J 20 259-267 Xuan TD, Tsuzuki E (2001) Effects of application of alfalfa pellet on germination and growth of weeds. J Crop Prod 4 303-312... 

Einhellig, F.A. Allelopathy Current status and future goals. In Allelopathy, organisms, processes, and applications. Inderjit, K.MM. Dakshini, F.A. Einhellig. eds. Washington, DC American Chemical Society. 1995 pp. 1-24. 

Butler, L.G Chemical communication between the parasitic weed Striga and its crop host. A new dimension of allelochemistry. In Allelopathy Organism, Processes and Application. Inderjit, Dakshini K.M.M., Einhellig, F.A. eds. ACS Symposium Series Washington, DC 1995 582 158-168. 

Haig, T. Application of hyphenated chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques to plant allelopathy research. J Chem Ecol 2001 27 2363-2396. 

Tang, C.S., Cai, W.F., Kohl, K., Nishimoto, R.K. Plant sttess and allelopathy. In Allelopathy Organisms, processes, and applications. Inderjit, K.M.M. Dakshini, Einhellig, F.A. eds., Washington DC, USA American Chemical Society 1995. 

Fujimoto, D.K., Weller, D.M., Thomashow, L.S. Role of secondary metabolites in root disease suppression. In, Allelopathy organisms, processes and applications. Inderjit, K.M.M. Dakshini, Einhellig F.A., eds., ACS Symposium Series Washington, D.C. 1995 pp. 330-347. 

In allelopathy, the canvas is handed down to each generation for further development. In its entirety, the progressive art should encompass observation, chemistry, and mode of action, culminating in practical application, the latter, of course, solving practical problems to the benefit of the general population. 

Blum, U., 1995. The value of model plant-microbe-soil systems for understanding processes associated with allelopathic interactions One example. In Inderjit, Dakshini, K. M. M., Einhellig, F. A. (Eds.), Allelopathy organisms, processes, and applications. ACS Symposium Series No. 582. American Chemical Society, Washington D.C, 127-131... 

Wink, M. and Latz-Bruning, B. 1995. Allelopathic properties of alkaloids and other natural products Possible modes of action. In Inderjit, K.M.M. Dakshini and F.A. Einhellig, (Eds), Allelopathy. Organisms, Processes and Applications. ACS Symposium Series 582, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 117-126... 

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