The phenomenon of allelopathy: first field assessments | Phenomenes d'allelopathie: premieres observations au champ
2002
Delabays, N. | Mermillod, G. (Station federale de recherches en production vegetale de Changins (RAC), Nyon (Switzerland))
Beside competition effects, interactions among plants also have a biochemical component: allelopathy. Numerous species produce, and release in the environment, chemicals that can inhibit the growth and development of the surrounding plants. In this article, observations carried out in different field experiments are reported. Dry tissues of allelopathic species have been incorporated into the soil and their effects on the growth of weeds and crops have been assessed. With several species, such as Artemisia annua, Bromus tectorum, Hordeum murinum or Origanum vulgare, a strong reduction of the weed growth has been measured. Using cultivars of Artemisia annua with very different artemisinin (a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxyde produced by the plant) contents, the role of this molecule in the allelopathic effects has been demonstrated. A better understanding of the phenomenon of allelopahy could offer promising opportunities in weed control, for instance through the utilisation of cover or smother crops, the management of crop residues or even the breeding of allelopathic crop cultivars. Obviously, this approach is particularly interesting for integrated and organic productions, as alternatives to chemical weed control which are presently scarce and expensive.
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