Allelopathy

Allelopathy—the production by an organism of substances inhibitory or harmful to other organisms—as a concept has been utilized for more than 2,000 years, although the term was coined in 1937 (see Historical Background). Initial empirical studies of allelopathic interactions began to appear around the 1960s, and since then the field has grown rapidly. The importance of these interactions has been shown for many ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic. Allelopathy is currently considered an important factor for the structure and dynamics of communities and is viewed as a competitive advantage that exotic plants have in their introduced ranges. Inhibitory chemicals against native plant species in introduced systems are thought to be one of the key traits associated with plant species invasiveness. The field has changed from methodological concerns on how to support the occurrence of allelopathy (i.e., providing empirical evidence of its effects) to how it can be used to explain community dynamics and the success of invasive species. The readings presented in this bibliography include the history of allelopathy (Historical Background), methodological aspects (Methodological Aspects, Allelopathy vs. Competition), Biochemistry and Physiology, Ecological Aspects, its relation with invasional success (Invasion), its occurrence in different ecosystems (Allelopathy in Different Ecosystems), and its applications (Applied Allelopathy in Agriculture and Forestry).