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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

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Repeatable Stair-step Assay to Access the Allelopathic Potential of Weedy Rice (Oryza sativa ssp.)
Published on: January 28, 2020
[Algal control ability of allelopathically active submerged macrophytes: a review]
1Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China. prana@zju.edu.cn
Summary
Submerged plants release chemicals that inhibit algae, helping keep lakes clear. Research shows specific plants and compounds are effective, but more study is needed on environmental influences.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic Ecology
- Phytochemistry
Context:
- Shallow lakes often experience shifts between clear-water and turbid states.
- Submerged macrophytes play a crucial role in maintaining clear-water conditions.
Purpose:
- To review the current understanding of submerged macrophyte allelopathy on algae.
- To synthesize research on the occurrence, types, and effects of allelochemicals from aquatic plants.
Summary:
- Allelopathically active submerged macrophytes, like Myriophyllum and Ceratophyllum, effectively control phytoplankton, particularly cyanobacteria and diatoms.
- Released allelochemicals, such as hydroxybenzene, inhibit algal growth, with varying sensitivity among species.
- Environmental factors like light, temperature, and nutrients significantly modulate these allelopathic interactions.
Impact:
- Highlights the potential of submerged macrophytes for natural lake restoration and management.
- Identifies knowledge gaps, emphasizing the need for further research on allelochemicals and environmental influences.
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