Volume 3 – Issue 3
Online ISSN: 2582-368X
ALLELOPATHY IN AGRICULTURE
Article Id: AL202141
1
Priyanki Bora* and 1Jimni Phukan
1
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural, University, Jorhat,
Assam, India
Email: [email protected]
A
llelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or
more biochemical that influences the germination, growth, survival, and
reproduction of other organisms. Allelochemicals, which are the secondary
metabolites of plant, algae, bacteria and fungi, are responsible for allelopathy. The crop
having allelopathic property can be used for nutrient management, weed control, disease, pest
management and abiotic stress management in field crops. The allelochemicals also enhance
and regulates crop growth. Allelochemicals produced by microorganisms, insects, higher
animals and plants could provide new strategies for maintaining and increasing forest and
agricultural production in the future. The application of allelopathic substances in the crop
field reduces the utilization of agrochemicals, which have a detrimental effect on the
environment and human life.
Allelopathy in weed management
Allelochemicals have the potential to be used as a herbicide. Allelopathy may help in
weed management through the inhibition of weed seed germination and seedling growth.
Weed-suppressing ability in several crops is either due to the exudation of allelochemical
compounds released from living plant parts or from decomposing residue. As these are free
from all the problems associated with present herbicides, they could be used directly as
herbicides, and their chemistry can also be used to develop new herbicides. A lot of
secondary compounds are produced by plants and microorganisms, and many of these are
phytotoxic to weeds, thus having the potential to be used as herbicides. Glufosinate –AM, a
synthetic analogue of bialaphos (microbial toxin/allelochemical is found in bacterium
Streptomyces hygroscopicus) is extensively used for weed control in cropped and non-
cropped situations. AAL toxin is a metabolite produced by Alternaria alternate f.sp.
Lycopersici used as a natural herbicide. Many crops have been reported with their alleged
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allelopathic effect. For e.g., Barley produces phenolic compounds and two alkaloids viz.,
gramine and hordenine. Gramine inhibited the growth of chickweed, even in small
concentrations. In Sinapis alba, root length and vigour of root tips decreased due to both
hordenine and gramine. Radicle tips exposed to hordenine and gramine of Sinapis alba
showed damage to cell walls, increase in both size and number of vacuoles, autophagy, and
disorganization of organelles. Rye residues have been used to control weeds in fruit orchards
(Narwal and Haouala, 2013)
Allelopathy and crop nutrition
Allelochemicals play a significant role in plant nutrition. These allelochemicals
released into the rhizosphere, produced by plant, algae, bacteria and fungi, regulate
solubilization, mobilization, release and chelation of mineral nutrients. Allelopathy can help
to improve Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). To improve N use efficiency (NUE) in
agricultural systems, the nitrification rate in soil should be decreased, which is an important
strategy to minimize N losses. Allelopathy offers an attractive and natural option to decrease
nitrification for improving NUE in agricultural systems (Jabran et al. 2013)
Allelopathy in insect pest management
Extensive use of synthetic insecticides usually have a negative effect on the
environment, human and animal health, and most critically, develops resistance against
insects. Scientists are therefore turning towards the discovery and use of natural insect
suppressants. Azadirachtin, an allelochemical from neem plant, effectively inhibit insect
cicadellid, whitefly and Ashbya gossypii. Neem seed oil is reported to exhibit antifeedant
properties against nymph and adult strawberry aphids. Eucalyptus contains a volatile oil
which severely effects post-embryonic development and adult emergence of rice moth when
sprayed during the larval period of rice moth. Common rue plant contains allelochemicals,
coumarin and flavonoids, which have the potentiality to suppress Mediterranean fruit fly and
mosquitoes. Ethanol produced from California pepper tree’s leaf extract imparts insecticidal
effect on elm leaf beetle. Ambrosia trifida, Ageratum conyzoides, and Lantana camara have
allelopathic activity against insect and other pests (Farooq et al. 2011)
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Allelopathy in disease management
Plant disease is a serious issue causing damage to many crops. The soil-born pathogen
causes substantial losses to crop production as it disturbs the crop stand and lowers the
quality of production. Although cultural practices such as burning infected plant debris and
using resistant cultivar have long been used, diseases still cause abundant losses in crop
yields. Chemical disease control is not very effective and also very harmful to the
environment. Another approach for the suppression of plant-pathogen is by using allelopathic
crops in different ways. For reducing disease intensity, an allelopathic crop can be
intercropped with the main crop, which creates a microclimate congenial for disease
suppression. Intercropping of tomato with Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) inhibit the
multiplication of bacterial wilt (Pseudomonus solanacearum) without any negative effect on
tomato. Marigold, when intercropped with tomato, suppress early blight of tomato caused by
Alternaria solani. Neem leaves or neem cake applied to soil have a long term effect on the
management of root node nematodes. Dried cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata)
incorporated into the soil significantly reduced the yellow cabbage pathogen (F. oxysporum
sp. conglutinan) population and produced near disease-free cabbage plants. Methanethiol,
dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide from the residues were suggested to have contributed
to disease suppression (Ramirez Villapudua and Munneche1988).
Allelochemical as growth regulator
In modern agriculture, the role of plant growth regulators is very important. These are
the substances which are known to control the plant’s physiological and biochemical
processes at low concentration. The growth-promoting effects of allelopathy can be used in
different ways. Foliar application of plants extracts which having promotive effects can be
beneficial for other crops. At higher concentration, the allelochemicals have an inhibitory
effect, and at low concentration, the allelochemicals have a promotive effect, i.e.
concentration of allelochemicals is inversely related to the promotive effect of the plant.
Moringa water extracts contain a growth hormone i.e. Zeatin, which is the source of
cytokinin, has been widely used for growth promotion in agronomic and horticultural crops.
It increases yields by 25%-30% for a number of crops such as soyabean, maize and coffee.
So, the juice from fresh Moringa leaves can be used to produce an effective plant growth
hormone. (Maishanu et al. 2017)
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Allelochemicals in abiotic stress management
The abiotic stresses, increase in daily mean temperature, changed patterns of
precipitation, increase in episodes of drought, and floods may pose threats to crop production
and food security in the future. Plants have evolved several mechanisms to cope with abiotic
stresses. Production and release of secondary metabolites among organisms induce tolerance
mechanism against abiotic stresses in ecosystems. Production of allelochemicals at higher
rates induces resistance in plants against stresses and helps them grow vigorously under such
conditions. The production of allelochemicals is influenced by the age of the plant, type of
stress, the intensity of stress and surroundings. For example, when drought-resistant plants
are exposed to drought condition, cyanogenic glucoside synthesis is enhanced. Biosynthesis
of ferulic acid is increased under drought condition in wheat. Cucumber, when exposed to dry
conditions, produces more phenolics and flavonoids. Similarly, temperature fluctuations also
cause a change in the production rate of allelochemicals. Plants have to make necessary
metabolic and structural adjustments to cope with the stress conditions. Stress-induced
changes in plant metabolism and development can often be attributed to altered patterns of
gene expression. In response to stress, some genes are expressed more intensively, whereas
others are repressed. The protein products of stress-induced genes, named stress proteins, are
helping plants to survive under stress conditions and minimizing the effectiveness of the
stress agents. (Pedrol et al. 2006)
Conclusion
The term ‘allelopathy’ is mainly viewed negatively, but if correctly managed, this
phenomenon may be exploited for enhancing crop productivity. There are a number of
reports indicating the improvement in crop production due to allelopathic interactions. This
manipulation can be achieved through weed, disease, pest and nutrient management etc. For
sustainable agriculture, allelopathy has achieved great success in weed management. The
utilization of allelopathic crop combined with reduced doses of herbicides can be a promising
strategy for sustainable weed management, enhancing environmental health. The allelopathic
potential of the crop can be exploited directly by using allelopathic interactions or indirectly
by utilizing allelochemicals as a biopesticide.
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Reference
Narwal, S. S. and Haouala, R. (2013). Role of Allelopathy in Weed Management for
Sustainable Agriculture. Allelopathy.217-249.
Jabran, K.; Farooq, M.; Aziz, T. and Siddique, K.H.M.(2013). Allelopathy and Crop
Nutrition. Allelopathy - Current Trends and Future Applications. Springer- Verlag Berlin
Heidelberg. 337-348.
Pedrol,N.; Gonzalez,L. and Reigosa, M.J.(2006). Allelopathy and abiotic stress.
Allelopathy : a physiological process with ecological implications.Springer.171-209.
Maishanu, H.M., Mainasara, M.M., Yahaya, S. and Yunusa,A.( 2017)The Use of
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Ramirez-Villapudua, J. and Munneche, D.E. (1988). Effects of solar heating and soil
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