18.06.2024: Katarina Šoln (University Primorska, Slovenia): Allelopathy: the secret biochemical weapon of plants, HS 32.01, Institut für Biologie, Bereich Pflanzenwissenschaften, Holteigasse 6, 17.00 Uhr
Plants compete for natural resources, but unlike animals, they cannot simply run away when in danger. Some of them use allelopathy instead. Allelopathic plants release secondary compounds into the soil that inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants. Allelopathy is a biochemical interaction between plants in which an allelopathic plant produces and releases secondary compounds (allelochemicals) primarily into the rhizosphere, resulting in the suppression of germination, growth, and development of neighbouring plants. The phytotoxic effect of one plant on another growing in the same soil has been observed since ancient times. However, to date, little is known about the allelopathic mechanism. In this talk, I will present the structural, physiological, and molecular mechanisms behind allelopathic interactions. I will also describe the initial responses of plants to allelopathic compounds, leading to a disturbance of the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, accompanied by changes in the physiological state of the plant. Finally, some guidelines for further studies in the field of allelopathy will be presented.