info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Allelochemicals: Role in Plant-Environment Interactions
Date
2009Registration in:
Leicach, Silvia Rosa; Sampietro, Diego Alejandro; Narwal, S. S.; Allelochemicals: Role in Plant-Environment Interactions; Studium Press; 2009; 199
978-1933699448
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Author
Leicach, Silvia Rosa
Sampietro, Diego Alejandro
Narwal, S. S.
Abstract
During evolution, the plants developed new biosynthetic pathways to produce secondary metabolites (flavonoids, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, phenolics and tannins) known as allelochemicals. These provide adaptative advantages to plants for survival against herbivores, pests (Insects, nematodes, pathogens, weeds), environmental stresses and other plants. They can be considered as the chemical language of plants, which continuously changes and increases in complexity with their evolution. Allelopathy phenomenon refers to inhibitory or stimulatory biochemical interactions between the plant-plants, plant-predators and plant-pathogens mediated by plant allelochemicals released into the environment as leachates, volatiles, root exudates and decomposition of plant residues. The allelochemicals affects numerous biochemical reactions/metabolic processes (photosynthesis and respiration etc) in plants and such actions may be determined at molecular, structural, biochemical, physiological and ecological levels. This book aims to provide an overview of structure, origin and mode of release of plant allelochemicals and their biological roles in allelopathic interactions.