New study in China identifies Crabgrass as herbicide source

A new study in China has identified what makes Crabgrass tough. 

 

According to the study, Crabgrass, a persistent and unwanted weed, produces a powerful herbicide that kills nearby plants. This is contrary to the popular belief that Crabgrass dominates lawns, gardens, and farmers' fields by simply overcrowding other plants. This discovery could lead to the development of new herbicide.

 

Scientists have long suspected that Crabgrass thrives on Allelopathy, which occurs when one plant restricts the growth of another by releasing toxins. A team from China Agricultural University had set out to determine if Crabgrass has this ability. 

 

They isolated three chemicals from Crabgrass that affect the microbial communities in nearby soil and inhibit the growth of staple crops, such as wheat, corn and soybeans. They found that the chemical-specific changes in the soil’s microbial community generated a negative feedback for crop growth, noting that the chemicals also have a direct toxic effect on other plants.