Allelopathy Journal

Allelopathy is new science, which indicates inhibitory or stimulatory biochemical interactions between the two plant spp. Prof. Hans Molisch, a German Plant Physiologist coined this term in 1937. Thereafter worldwide, a lot of allelopathic research had been conducted in various fields of Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Hence, International Allelopathy Society in 1996, broadened its definition to Allelopathy refers to any process involving secondary metabolites produced by plants, microorganisms, viruses and fungi that influence the growth and development of Agricultural and Biological Systems. In future, Worldwide there will be increase in demand for better quality food and in large quantity due to increased human population. Therefore, for Sustainability of Agriculture, we need to minimise the use to present pesticides (weedicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides), to control pests (weeds, insects, nematodes, diseases) in field crops, through use of allelopathic strategies for pests management. The present pesticides used for control of agricultural pests have caused many problems, viz., development of resistance in organisms, environmental pollution, toxicity related health hazards in humans and livestock. Studies have shown a great potential of allelochemicals in pest control, thus, these may minimise or eliminate the use of present pesticides. Besides, allelopathy has many other applications in agroecosystems and thus provides basis to Sustainable Agriculture. Therefore, it is priority area of multidisciplinary research in developed Countries and currently allelopathy research is being done throughout the World. For clean environment, to avoid health hazards in human and livestock and for development and Sustainability of Organic/Ecological Agriculture, adoption of allelopathic strategies in farming are essential.