1Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
* Correspondence author, Key Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Use, South China Botanical Garden, Gaungzhou 510650, China. E. Mail: zubaida_yousaf@yahoo.com
Online published on 12 March, 2012.
Allium is medicinal genus, rich in carbohydrates and organic-sulphur compounds such as Allicin (a precursor for the production of alkaloids, saponins and glycosides). Many phytochemicals have been isolated from various species of this genus, but only few (Allinase and Ajoene) are active as pesticides. Leaf extracts of garlic (A. sativum) controls 98% growth of citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans). Allium cepa, A. sativum, A. fistulosum and A. ampeloparasum are fungicidal against the Alternaria alternata, A. brassicola and Myrothecium roridum. The phenol and sulphur based allelopathic compounds of genus Allium can be used for weeds and insects management in agricultural systems.
Allelopathy, Allelochemicals, Allium spp., Biofumigation, Herbicidal, Insecticidal
