Phytochemical Profiling and Allelopathic Potential of Wild Solanaceae Species on Crop Germination

Abstract

Phytochemical composition and allelopathy of certain varieties of wild Solanaceae plants such as Datura stramonium, Solanum nigrum, and Withania somnifera are extensively reviewed in this research for the evaluation of their ecological interactions and areas of application in sustainable agriculture. Complex phytochemical composition determined via GC-MS and LC-MS/MS determined a wide range of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, which possess renowned bioactivity. Allelopathic activities were assessed by germination and seedling growth tests on representative agricultural crops, which established that the aqueous and methanolic extracts of these wild plants had both inhibitory as well as stimulatory effects dependent upon concentration and the target species. The results support the fact that these plants emit excessive amounts of allelochemicals that inhibit seed germination and its growth as evidenced by a powerful allelopathic effect. This dual role of allelopathy as a net defence of the plants and a bioherbicidal option unveils the relevance of the resourceful wild Solanaceae in reducing dependency on artificial chemicals and promoting environmentally responsible weed management methods. Finding such as these offer great benefits towards the inclusion of these species in organic and sustainable agricultural systems.