Allelopathy Studies in Weed Science in India——A Review

Abstract

Allelopathy accounts for both beneficiary and detrimental biochemical relations amongst plants. The phenomenon has received great attention since the 1980’s all over the world; however, in India, research on allelopathy just started in the late 1980’s. Studies have been done with many crops, trees, shrubs and weeds under both laboratory bioassays and field trials to determine their allelopathic potential and its use for weed control. Plants belonging to the Asteraceae family are the most studied species for the allelopathic potential to control weeds. Among the Asteraceae species, allelopathic stress mediated by aqueous extract of differerent parts of Parthenium hysterophorus has been most studied. Allelopathic activity of Ageratum conyzoides has also received deep attention. The individual effect of some allelochemicals has also been investigated. The potential of allelopathy in weed interference on crop production was also studied. In conclusion, allelopathy research should run parallel with contemporary studies such as ecological, horticultural, agricultural, environmental and chemical studies, and an integrated approach ought to be adopted to completely utilize the applicability of allelopathic plant species to addressthe problem of weeds and look for their control.