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Black walnut allelopathy: current state of the science

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Chemical Ecology of Plants: Allelopathy in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Abstract

Allelopathy, generally defined as any direct or indirect effect by one plant species on another through the production of chemical compounds that are released to the environment [1–3], has important widespread implications in natural communities and in artificial plant assemblages such as agriculture, horticulture, and forestry [2, 4–8]. Allelopathic influences may be subtle in natural communities, but they can be more pronounced in artificial communities among plant species whose evolutionary history is seldom connected. Black walnut (Juglans nigra), a tree species often cited as an example of allelopathy, is one of the most valuable hardwood timber species in the United States. It is often found in natural forests and grown in plantations. Anecdotal stories abound of the allelopathic effects of black walnut on associated vegetation, dating back to the first century A.D. [9]. Our knowledge base of black walnut allelopathy has increased steadily over the last two decades, allowing us to distinguish between myths and science. This chapter examines the different facets of black walnut allelopathy in the light of recent advances in chemical ecology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 5988 Hwy 90, Building 4900, Milton, 32583, USA

    Shibu Jose

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  1. Shibu Jose
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, P7B 5E1, Ontario, Canada

    Azim U. Mallik

  2. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Inderjit

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Jose, S. (2002). Black walnut allelopathy: current state of the science. In: Mallik, A.U., Inderjit (eds) Chemical Ecology of Plants: Allelopathy in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8109-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8109-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9439-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8109-8

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