ARS | Publication request: Biocontrol of Weeds with Allelopathy: Conventional and Transgenic Approaches

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: February 10, 2007
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Citation: Duke, S.O., Baerson, S.R., Rimando, A.M., Pan, Z., Dayan, F.E., Belz, R.G. 2007. Biocontrol of Weeds with Allelopathy: Conventional and Transgenic Approaches. In Novel Biotechnologies for Biocontrol Agent Enhancement and Management, M. Vurro & J. Gressel, eds., Springer, The Netherlands. pp. 75-85.

Technical Abstract: Growing highly allelopathic crops has the potential to significantly reduce our reliance on synthetic herbicides for weed management. Specific phytotoxins have been found in allelopathic rice, wheat, and rye varieties, but this information has not been used in breeding varieties that can be marketed on the basis of their weed management properties. Although such a conventional approach is viable, transgenic strategies may be better. For example, genes encoding enzymes of the highly potent phytotoxin sorgoleone in Sorghum spp. might be transgenically manipulated to enhance the allelopathic properties of sorghum crops. This potent phytotoxin is exclusively synthesized and secreted by root hairs. The sorgoleone pathway has been elucidated and putative genes encoding them have been identified and partially verified.