Study of the Allelopathic Effect of Lantana camara Roots on the Diversity of Mycoflora of Ocimum sanctum

Abstract

Allelopathic interactions have a strong bearing on microbial activity and diversity in the soil, and they are important in the action of allelochemicals released in to the environment. Allelopathic interactions in plants play a crucial role in both natural and manipulated systems. These interactions also involve the effect on rhizosphere mycoflora of roots of other plants growing in the vicinity of the plants, releasing the allelochemicals. Allelopathic effect of Lantana camara was found to be very significant on the rhizosphere fungal population of Ocimum sanctum. The diversity of fungal species was also found to be higher in the rhizosphere soil of Ocimum sanctum growing away from the influence of leachates of Lantan camara roots. Some plant pathogenic species, such as, Curvularia sp, Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp and Rhizoctonia were found to be associated with rhizosphere of O. sanctum removed from the influence of allelochemicals. Small changes in soil properties arising from release of chemical substances can be of importance in the regulation of population dynamics of microbial community.