Mode of action of Mycoherbicide: Physiological and Biochemical Response in Weed Management (KEY IJP************266)

• Dr Ajay Kumar Singh

Abstract

Weed plants are indispensable companions of cultivated plant in which thy cause substantial damage. The sustainable weed management in modern agriculture involves dealing with challenges from climate change, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources as well as pressure to cope with dependence on agricultural inputs. Balancing crop productivity with environmental sustainability is one of the main challenges for agriculture worldwide. The emergence of weed resistant to synthetic herbicides generates huge economic losses, so unconventional weed control strategies, especially those based on ecological principles are very much needed in modern agriculture. A natural ecofriendly approach-Mycoherbicides such as fungal extracts, fungal metabolites and fungal spores can significantly reduce the use of chemical herbicides. Mycoherbicides are alternatives for weed control in sustainable agriculture by which fungal organism produce biochemicals that influence the growth, survival and development of weeds. Fungal produced lytic enzymes and toxins degrade the endosperm and utilize it for survival, preventing the growth of weed seeds. There are various fungal species were assessed as mycoherbicides against different noxious weeds. There are a very few studies on the physiological influence of mycoherbicide on the germination and growth of weeds. Weed seed germination or growth is hindered when fungal metabolites or extracts are absorbed, damaging the cell membrane, DNA, mitosis, amylase activity, and other biochemical processes. Weed growth is slowed by decreased rates of root-cell division, food absorption, photosynthetic pigment synthesis, and plant growth hormone synthesis, while the production of reactive oxygen species, stress-mediated hormones, and erratic antioxidant activity is increased. The objective of this review is to present a overview of mycoherbicide and its herbicidal metabolites highlights recent advances, ongoing research and prospects on weed management practices applied in agriculture and it physiological and biochemical mechanism