Allelopathic Potential of Select Gymnospermous Trees

Abstract

Abstract Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon that refers to the beneficial or harmful effects of one plant on another plant, both crop and weed species, by the release of organic chemicals (allelochemicals) from plant parts by leaching, root exudation, volatilization, residue decomposition in soil and other processes in both natural and agricultural systems. Allelopathy can affect many aspects of plant ecology including occurrence, growth, plant succession, the structure of plant communities, survival, dominance, diversity, and plant productivity. In this review, we describe the concept of allelopathy, some mechanisms of operation within plants and then focus on a select number of gymnospermous tree genera: Ephedra, Pinus, Taxus, Cedrus, Juniperus, Picea, Cunninghamia and Araucaria. Pinus, Taxus (yew) and Cedrus (cedar) trees have a strong negative allelopathic effect on the germination, growth, or development of other plant species in the forest community.Key Words: allelopathy, Quercus, Pinus, Ephedra, Taxus