Allelopathy: An Alternative to Synthetic Herbicides for Weed Management (Review Article)
Gafoor Unnisa1, Maqbool Ahmed2 and Mohammad Faizan3
Botany-School of Sciences, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad-500032 (India)
ABSTRACT
Allelopathy refers to inhibitory or detrimental effects of secondary metabolites produce by plants or micro-organisms that influences the growth and development of Agricultural and Biological systems. In field crops, allelopathy can be used following rotation, using cover crops, mulching and plant extracts for natural pest management. Some plants and trees are well known as allelopathic are Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromaticus), Rice (Oryza sativa), Pea (Pisum sativum), sorghum etc. Allelopathy is a naturally occurring biochemical interaction among organisms that may be employed for managing weeds, insect pests and diseases in the immediate vicinity. It is a new approach to be used as an alternative (bio herbicides) to synthetic herbicides for the weed management. To ensure sustainable agricultural development, it is important to exploit cultivation systems that take advantage of the stimulatory/inhibitory influence of allelopathic plants to regulate plant growth and development and to avoid allelopathic autotoxicity. Allelochemicals can potentially be used as growth regulators, herbicides, insecticides, and antimicrobial crop protection products. The main purpose of this review article is to know the research progress on the use of plant Allelopathy as a source of bio herbicides for the weed management.