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 Dr. Prasanta Bhowmik, UMass Amherst Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences Professor, was invited to speak at the First Asian Allelopathy Society (AAS) Conference in Guangzhou, China held December 18-22, 2009.
He delivered a lecture titled “Experimental Methods in Allelopathy: Plant Bioassays” that elucidated advantages and drawbacks of various plant bioassays generally involved in allelopathic research in agriculture, forestry and other areas of plant sciences. This conference was attended by over 200 participants. Dr. Bhowmik was also elected as one of the Executive Board Members of the AAS to represent the United States.
Allelopathy is the study of biomolecules produced by plants, algae, bacteria, and fungi that influence the growth and development of agricultural and other biological systems. The biomolecules, called allelochemicals, are sometimes produced as secondary metabolites, and can be released into the environment. Once in the environment, the allelochemicals may inhibit the development of neighboring organisms. For example, alleopathy may contribute to the successful establishment and spread of certain weeds. On the other hand, some plants may produce allelochemicals that will prevent an infestation by specific weeds. Allelopathy has been implicated in several other interactive ecosystems as well. Understanding alleopathic interactions and the systems that produce them has great potential implications, especially in terms of agriculture. The importance of Allelopathy is highlighted in the research presented at the 1st AAS Conference, and demonstrates the international interest in Allelopathy.
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