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OOS-16: Allelopathy: Biochemical interactions among plants affecting community
structure, exotic invasions, and evolutionary theory
Endorsed
by the International Allelopathy Society (IAS), the Chinese Academy of Science,
and the Eastern Asian Federation of Ecological Societies
Tuesday,
August 9, 8 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Rooms 511c and 511f, Level 5, Palais
des congrès de Montréal
Organizers:
Azim Mallik (amallik@lakeheadu.ca),
Ragan Callaway
Description:
Although
allelopathic interactions play important roles in structuring plant communities,
many ecologists are still skeptical because of lack of “unequivocal proof”
and competition remains the predominant acceptable mechanism in community
structuring. Experimental demonstration of allelopathy has been very difficult
mainly because: (1) allelopathy works in concert with other ecological
processes, and (2) it involves a wide variety of rhizosphere organisms that
transform allelochemicals and alter net interactions. Separating allelopathy
from other chemical and biological processes is not easy, but recently
significant progress has been made using creative experiments and sophisticated
biochemical and molecular techniques. Several authors have provided convincing
evidence of allelopathic mechanisms in invasive plants. This session will
discuss both fundamental and applied significance of allelopathic mechanisms in
reference to invasive plants and crop-weed interactions. The forum will
highlight the possible application of this knowledge in sustainable agriculture
and forestry in an aim to reducing or eliminating agrochemical uses.
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