Use of allelopathy for weed management in China - A review

Utilizing allelopathic plants to suppress the weed infestation is most cost-effective and environment-friendly method of weed control. Recently, it has received more attention in China and many research groups are working in this area. The research covers (a) screening of allelopathic crop germplasm, (b) breeding and genetics of allelopathic crops, (c) mechanism of allelopathic interactions between the crops and weeds and (d) identification of allelochemicals etc. Good progress has been made in selection of allelopathic rice lines, based on allelochemical fingerprinting and in chemical signals for communication between allelopathic rice and barnyardgrass plants. Some rice cultivars with strong allelopathic capability have been identified and advanced allelopathic rice lines have been bred. These rice lines showed very good performance for weed control in paddy fields. Future research needs to understand the dynamics of allelochemicals in soil and molecular biology of allelopathic plants.