ALLELOPATHY

The term allelopathy was coined by Molish (1937), which is derived from Greek
language meaning “mutual harm” . He defined the term allelopathy as “biochemical
interactions detrimental as well as beneficial between all types of plants”. In current use
the term allelopathy refers to harmful or beneficial effects generated by one plant on
another through the production of allelo chemicals either free living or dead plant tissues
that escape into the environment.

SOURCES OF ALLELOPATHIC CHEMICALS

Allelo chemicals or allelopathins are released by the donor plants in a variety of

ways such as:

1. Volatilization: Volatile substances released from the racially spread leaves of

parthenium inhibit growth of indigofera, bean, cowpea, tomato, ragi and wheat.
2. Root exudation: The hydrophobic exudates from the roots of sorghum inhibit
germination in corn and root elongation in lettuce.
3. Leaching: A variety of chemicals may be leached from the aerial poritions of
plants by rainwater or by fog dip.
Leachates from roots and inflorescences of Clerodendron viscosum inhibit growth
of lettuce. The leachates of Abutilon theophrasti inhibit growth of soyabean.
4.Decomposition of plant residues: The plant residues of Rye (Secale Cereale)
decrease the emergence of lettuce and prosomillet (Panicum milliaceum)

ALLELOCHEMICALS PRESENT IN DIFFERENT PLANT PARTS:

Chemicals with allelopathic potential are present virtually in all plant tissues
Including leaves, stems, roots, rhizomes, flowers, fruits and seeds.
LEAVES: Parthenium, Celosia argentea, Amaranthus viridis
SHOOT: Salvis syriaca, lantana camera
ROOT: Wild oat, laurea spp.Sunflower, Asparagus afficinalis
RHIZOME: Quackgrass (Agropyron repens)
FRUITS: Parthenium hysterophorous
SEEDS: Datura stramonium
WHOLE PLANT : Cyperus rotundus

WEED AND CROP SPECIES WITH ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL

1. Weed species:
Examples : Celosia aregenta, Parthenium hysterophorus,
Lantana camera, Chenopodium album,
Echinocloa crusgalli, Agropyran repens,
Amaranthus retroflexus Chenopodium album
2. CROP SPECIES:
3. EXAMPLES: Triticum aestivum, Ipomoea batatus Helianthus annus
 Cucumis callosus when grown along with bajra and sesamum decreased the yield
to the extent of 45 and 62 per cent respectively.
Growth of leaves and roots of wheat significantly reduce by root exudates of wild
oats. Spring sown winter rye kills soybean two weeks after sowing due to
allelopathic effect.

NATURAL PRODUCTS IDENTIFIED AS ALLELOPATHIC AGENTS:

1.PARTHENIUM: Parthenin, Caffeic acid, Vanillic acid

Ferulic acid, Chlorogenic acid, P-hydroxybenzoic acid,
P-Coumaric acid, anisic acid as inhibitors in
Parthenium leachate.
2.SORGHUM HELPENS: Chlorogenic acid, Coumaric acid and
P-hydroxy benzaldehyde
3.LANTANA CAMERA: Lentedene and Lancamarene in leaves and fruits
4 ARGEMONE MEXICANA: Senguinarine and dihydroxy sanguinarine
5. EUPHORBIA GENICULATA: Eupatol
6. DATURA STROMONIUM: Tropane alkaloids, Scopalamine and hyoscyamine in
both seeds and foliage.

MODE OF ACTION OF ALLELOCHEMICAL INHIBITORS:

Allelochemicals produced in the donor plants affect the recipient plants on nutrient
uptake, repiration,protein synthesis, and inhibit cell division, extension of growth,
photosynthesis, enzyme activity and changes membrane activity Further scope for
allelopathy:

The viable weed management includes mechanical, chemical and biological methods
of control. The mechanical weed control is time consuming, expensive and less effective,
when the plant is well established. The selectivity, residual toxicity, prohibitive cost, non
availability of herbicides, lack of technical know how and environmental pollution
restricts the use of herbicides from wider adaptability, especially in cultivated lands. Thus
economic and ecological limitations on control of many noxious weeds become more
restrictive. Under these circumstances, the allelopathic means of controlling weeds offer
a potential alternative. Eg.Noxious weeds become more restrictive. Under these
circumstances, the allelopathic means of controlling weeds offer a potential alternative.
Eg. Noxious and wide spread weed of parthenium hysterophorous can be controlled
successfully by introducing Cassia uniflora indicationg potential allelopathic means of
controlling this weed.