Allelopathy in mycorrhizal symbiosis in the Poaceae family

Many wild and cultivated grasses, exhibit allelopathy to exclude the associated species by reducing their regeneration, growth and yield. The grasses are less dependent on mycorrhizal symbiosis for nutrient acquisition, because their fibrous roots are efficient in absorption of nutrients. The variation in mycorrhizal colonization of grasses may be due to the presence or absence of allelochemicals in different grass species. The presence of allelochemicals adversely affect the mycorrhizal colonization of plant species. Some cultivated grass species (viz., rice, wheat, maize and sorghum) exhibit allelopathy and show variable response to mycorrhizal inoculation under different soil environments.