Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biochemical frontiers of allelopathy

  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Allelopathic interactions between plants and other organisms have been recognized by scientists worldwide because they offer alternative uses in agriculture, such as decreasing our reliance on synthetic herbicides, insecticides, and nematicides for disease and insect control. The recognition of the role that allelopathy can have in producing optimum crop yields is of fundamental importance. Despite much optimism and some progress in unravelling the complexities of biochemical interactions between species, a firm foundation for the scientific rationale of the existence and function of the allelopathic phenomenon has not been developed. Allelopathic chemicals are primarily secondary products of plant metabolism which have been an enigma to plant scientists; however, they undergo a variety of reactions with plant, insect and animal species that inhibit or stimulate their growth and development. Examples of some allelochemicals and their basis of molecular and biological action are shown: interaction between the unicorn plant (Proboscidea louisianica L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.); diterpenoid alkaloids (fromDelphinium ajacis L.) as allelochemicals; substances that occur in wheat (Tritcum aestivum) and wheat soil that cause autotoxic effects; alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) root saponins as allelochemicals; humic acids from wheat soil as allelochemicals; and structure-function of flavonols serving as allelochemicals in chloroplast-mediated electron transport and phosphorylation. This paper concludes with a discussion of some frontier areas of research in allelopathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AlSaadawi, I. S., Rice, E. L., Karns, T. K. B.: Allelopathic effects ofPolygonum avkulare L. III. Isolation, characterization, and biological activities of phytotoxins. - J. chem. Ecol.9: 761–774, 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, T. W., Gabriel, H.: Metabolism and excretion of caffeine during germination ofCoffea arabica L. -Plant Cell Physiol.25: 1431–1436, 1984.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bentley, O. G.: The potential for allelochemicals: opportunities for the future. - In:Waller, G. R. (ed.): Allelochemicals: Role in Agriculture and Forestry. Pp. 2–7. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 330, Washington D. C. 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhowmik, P. C., Doll, J. D.: Growth analysis of corn and soybean response to allelopathic effects of weed residues at various temperatures and photosynthetic photon flux densities. - J. chem. Ecol.9: 1263–1280, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cast, K. G.: Altelochemical Interactions in the Soil from No-Tillage vs. Conventional-Tillage Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Systems. - M. S. Thesis. 73 Pp. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, C. H., Waller, G. R.: Possible allelopathic constituents of Coffeaarabica. - J. chem. Ecol.6: 643–654, 1980a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chou, C. H., Waller, G. R.: Isolation and identification by mass spectrometry of phytotoxins in Coffea arabica. -Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin.21: 25, 1980b.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duffus, C. M., Duffus, J. H.: A possible role for cyclic AMP in gibberellic acid triggered release of α-amylase in barley endosperm slices. - Experientia25: 581, 1969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Einhellig, F. A.: Allelopathy - A natural protection, allelochemicals. - In:Mandara, H. B. (ed.): Handbook of Natural Pesticides: Theory, Practice and Detection. Pp. 161–200. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Einhelug, F. A.: Effects of allelopathic chemicals on crop productivity. - In:Hedin, P. A., Cutler, H. G., Hammock, B. D., Jenn, J. J., Moreland, D. E., Plimmer, J. D. (ed.): Bioregulators for Pest Control. Pp. 109–130. American Chemical Society. ACS Symposium Series 276. Washington, D. C. 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Einhelug, F. A., Eckrich, P. D.: Interactions of temperature and ferulic acid stress on grain sorghum and soybeans. - J. chem. Ecol. 10:161–170, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epifanio, J. A.: [Ecology of the cafetalero agroecosystem]. In Spanish. - Ph.D. Thesis. 166 Pp. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico D. F. 1981.

  • Evonari, M.: Germination inhibitors. - Bot. Rev.15: 153–194, 1949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowden, L., Lea, P. J.: Mechanism of plant avoidance of autotoxicity by secondary metabolites, especially by non-protein amino acids. - In:Rosenthal, G. A., Janzen, D. H. (ed.): Herbivores: Their Interaction with Secondary Plant Metabolites. Pp. 135–160. Academic Press, New York 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, J., Rushkin, E., Waller, G. R.: Highly potent germination inhibitors in aqueous eluate of fruits of Bishop’s weed (Ammi majus L.) and avoidance of autoinhibition. - J. chem. Ecol.8: 55–65, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, J., Waller, G. R.: Caffeine hazards and their prevention in germinating seeds of coffee (Coffea arabica). - J. chem. Ecol.9: 1099–1106, 1983a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, J., Waller, G. R.: Seeds as allelopathic agents. - J. chem. Ecol.9: 1107–1117, 1983b.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green, M. B., Hedin, P. A.: Natural Resistance of Plants to Pests: Role of Allelochemicals. - American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 296, Washington, D. C. 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guenzi, W. D., Kehr, W. R., McCalla, T. M.: Water-soluble phytotoxic substances in alfalfa forage: variation with variety, cutting, year, and stage of growth. - Agron. J.56: 499–500, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, R. D., Buchan, H.: High-performance liquid chromatography of phenolic acids and aldehydes derived from plants or from the decomposition of organic matter in soil. - Chromatography12: 139–143, 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassett, D. J., Bisesi, M. S., Hartenstein, R.: Bacterial action of humic acids. - Soil Biol. Biochem.19: 111–113, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedin, P. A.: Developing research trends in the chemistry of plant resistance to pests. - In:Green, M. B., Hedin, P. A. (ed.): Natural Resistance of Plants to Pests: Roĺe of Allelochemicals. Pp. 2–15. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series No. 296, Washington, D. C. 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedin, P. A., Cutler, H. G., Hammock, B. D., Menn, J. J., Moreland, D. E., Pummer, J. D. (ed.): Bioregulators for Pest Control., American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series No. 276, Washington, D.C. 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurzysta, M.: Effects of saponins isolated from seeds of lucerne on germination and growth of cereal seedlings. - Zesz. nauk. UMK Torń13: 253–256, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurzysta, M.,Waller, G. R.: Alfalfa (Medicago sariva L.) root saponins as an agent for cheat (Bromus secainus L.) control. - J. chem. Ecol. (in preparation), 1989.

  • Kihlman, B. A., Levan, A.: The cytological effect of caffeine. - Hereditas35: 109–111, 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, H.: Model for repair inhibition by caffeine. - Stud, biophys.50: 213–231, 1975.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, H.: On the interaction between caffeine and nucleic acids. 1. The influence of caffeine on the secondary structure of native DNA and RNA. - Stud, biophys.55:137–146, 1976.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, R. L., Jr.,Waller, G. R. Biochemistry of Diterpenoid Alkaloids. - Abstract, 9th Int. Congress Biochem.. Stockholm 1973.

  • Lawrence, T., Kichler, M. R.: The effect of fourteen root extracts upon germination and seedling length of fifteen plant species. - Can. J. Plant Sci.42: 308–313, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. M.: Allelopathy involving microorganisms: case histories from the United Kingdom. - In:Waller, G. R. (ed.): Altetochemicals: Role in Agriculture and Forestry. Pp. 45–52. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series No. 330, Washington, D. C. 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCalla, T. M., Norstadt, F. A.: Toxicity problems in mulch tillage. - Agr. Environ.1: 153–174, 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishustin, B. N.,Naumova, A. N..: Secretion of toxic substances by alfalfa and their effect on cotton and soil microflorsa. - Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. biol. No.6: 3–9, 1955.

  • Moreland, D. E., Novtizky, W. P.: Interference by flavone and flavonols with chtoroplast-mediated electron transport amd pnosphorylation. - Phytochemistry27: 3359–3366, 1988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nathanson, J. A.: Caffeine and related methylxanthines: possible naturally occurring pesticides. - Science226: 184, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oleszek, W., Jurzysta, M.: The allelopathic potential of alfalfa root medicagenic acid glycosides and their fate in soil environments. - Plant Soil98: 67–80, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oleszek, W., Jurzysta, M., Gorski, P.: Alfalfa saponins - The allelopathic agents. - Plant Soil (in press), 1989.

  • Patrick, Z. A., Koch, L. W.: Inhibition of respiration, germination and growth by substances arising during the decomposition of certain plant residues in soil. - Can. J. Bot.36: 621–647, 1958.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, Z. A., Tousson, T. A., Koch, L. W.: Effect of crop residue decomposition products on plant roots. - Annu. Rev. Phytopathol.2: 267–292, 1964.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pederson, M. W.: Effect of alfalfa saponin on cotton seed germination. - Agron. J.57: 516–517, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pflug, W., Ziechmann, W.: Humic acids and the disruption of bacterial cell walk by lysozyme. - Soil Biol. Biochem.14: 165–166, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PospISIL, F.: Influence of physiologically active substances of the soil humus on the activity of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase in pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots. - Biol. Plant.22: 161–166, 1980.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price, K. R., Johnson, I. T., Fenwick, G. R.: The chemistry and biological significance of saponins in foods and feeding stuffs. - CRC Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr.26: 27–135, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Racker, E.: Effect of quercitin on ATP-driven pumps and glycolysis. - In:Cody, V., Middleton, E., Jr., Harborne, J. B. (ed.): Plant Flavonoids in Biology and Medicine. Pp. 257–271. A. R. Liss, New York, NY. 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E. L.: Allelopathy, 2nd Edition. - Academic Press, Orlando 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rietveld, W. J.: Allelopathic effects of juglone on germination and growth of several herbaceous and woody species. - J. chem. Ecol.9: 295–308, 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riffle, M. S.: Biological and Biochemical Interactions between Unicorn Plant(Proboscidea louisianica) and Cotton (Gossypium hisutum). - Ph.D. Thesis. 120 Pp. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Sastry, S. D., Waller, G. R.: Identification of delsoline fromDelphinium ajacis. - Phytohemistry10: 1961–1962, 1971.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shany, S., Birk, Y., Gestetner, B., Bondi, A.: Preparation, characterization and some properties of saponins from lucerne tops and roots. - J. Sci. Food Agr.21: 131–134, 1970

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorne, R. L. Z.: Allelopathic Effects in Association of Wheat Soil and Straw with Determination of Selected Allelochemical Structures. - M.S. Thesis. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G. R. (ed.): Allelochemicals: Role in Agriculture and Forestry. 606 pp. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series No. 330, Washington, D. C., 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G. R., Burstrom, H.: Diterpenoid alkaloids as plant growth inhibitors. - Nature222: 576–578, 1969.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G. R., Krenzer, E. G., Jr., McPherson, J. K., McGown, S. R.: Allelopathic compounds in soil from no tillage vs. conventional wheat production. - Plant Soil98: 5–15, 1987a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G. R., Krenzer, E. G., Jr., McPherson, J. K., McGown, S. R.: Allelopathic influences on no tillage vs. conventional tillage in wheat production. - In:Waller. G. R. (ed.): Allelochemicals: Role in Agriculture and Forestry. Pp. 371–383. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series, No. 330, Washington, D. C. 1987b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G. R., Kumari, D., Friedman, J., Friedman, N., Chou, C.-H.: Caffeine autotondty inCoffea arabka L. - In:Putnam, A. R., Tang, C.-S. (ed.): The Science of Allelopathy. Pp. 243–269. John Wiley & Sons. Publ. New York 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G. R.,Riffle, M. S.,Murray, D. S.: Essential oil from the unicorn plant (Proboscidea louisianica): identification by mass spectrometry and allelochemical activity.- Abstracts, 33rd Annu. Conf. ASMS Conf. on Mass Spectrom. and Allied Topics. Pp. 144–145. San Antonio, Texas, May 27-June 1,1984a.

  • Waller, G. R.,Rttchey, C. R.,Krenzer, E. C.,Hamming, M.: Natural products from soil. - Abstracts, 32nd Annu. Conf. Mass Spectrom. and AlliedTopics. Pp. 144–145. San Antonio, Texas, May 27-June 1, 1984b.

  • Waller, G. R.,Timko, A. L.: Is humic add an allelopathic agent ? - Abstract of paper presented at 29th West Central States Biochem. Conf., University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, October 24–25,1986.

  • Wellman, F. L.: Coffee: Botany, Cultivation and Utilisation. - Interscience Publishers, New York, N. Y. 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhouse, H. W.: The senescence programs in biological systems in natural products research: - In:Lunford, C. G. (ed.): The Impact of Scientific Advances. Pp. 181–211. Philip Morris, Inc., Publ., Richmond, Virginia 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyman, C. L.: Isolation and Biological Activity of Six Varieties of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Root Saponins with Respect to Dormancy and Time. - M. S. Thesis, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Oklahoma State University, 74078, Stillwater, OK, USA

    G. R. Waller

Authors
  1. G. R. Waller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Waller, G.R. Biochemical frontiers of allelopathy. Biol Plant 31, 418–447 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02876217

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02876217

Keywords

Search

Navigation