The sorghum crop has grown rapidly in recent years, for being a plant with xerophilous characteristics; its production has especially increased in Northeastern Brazil due to its ability to withstand dry environments. Weeds are a major problem for grain crops, as these can significantly reduce yield, particularly when they emerge in the early stages of crops. To obtain crops resistant to weeds, studies have been conducted to demonstrate that some plants have a natural defense consisting in an organism's ability to produce metabolites that act to either inhibit or stimulate growth and development of other organisms grown in the same environment, which is called allelopathy. Sorghum is one of the plants that possess proven allelopathy, producing a set of lipid complex substances and proteins generically called sorgoleone, having as its main compound 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-[(Z,Z)-8',11',14'-pentadecatriene]-p-benzoquinone, which is naturally released into the soil from their roots and trichomes, inhibiting the growth of weeds upon contact with them. Because of these inherent characteristics of the sorghum crop, the present work aims to discuss the possible benefits of using this cereal, due to its allelopathic effects, as well as to inform about the known mechanisms of production and action of the main constituent compounds of sorgoleone and other compounds produced by the plant's roots.
Allelochemicals; quinone; weeds; biological control; Sorghum bicolor