Allelophaty - the chemical information system in plants adaptation

Abstract

The plant, as a living system, is an informational system too, with transmission and reception of different messages between the individuals of the community in which is integrated. The most common and most efficient system in the plant kingdom is of chemical nature. Through this system, energy and information are transmitted among individuals, or even communities, in order to ensure the homeostasis of the system. The study of these signals in the supraindividual level is designated as ecochemistry (Florkin, 1966) or ecological biochemistry (Schlee, 1981). Plant metabolic substance - especially those designed as "secondary" organic substances works as allelopathic information signalsin plant communities and function as stabilisers in a given community Owing to these chemical mediators the stability of the structure and the function in an ecosystem is granted. In industrialized societies, a lot of pseudosignals of chemical nature may occur (pollution, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) which may alter considerably the normal allelopathic relations. Research in this direction is almost neglected.