Phenolic profiling unravelling allelopathic encounters in agroecology

Allelopathy, a biological phenomenon involving the production and release of secondary metabolites known as allelochemicals, plays a critical role in plant interactions and agroecosystem dynamics. Phenolic compounds are a significant class of allelochemicals that profoundly affect plant competition, soil health, and microbial communities. When released into the soil, their action depends on the soil's physico-chemical characteristics and microbial communities. This review comprehensively inspects phenolic allelochemicals' structure-function relationship, their direct combat with root cells in the rhizosphere, ecological functions, and their role in plant succession and stress tolerance. Phenolic allelochemicals, characterized by their diverse structures and ecological roles, offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic herbicides due to their minimal residual impact on the environment and rapid biodegradation. Additionally, the review addresses the challenges and future directions in applying phenolic allelochemicals, aiming to bridge the gap between ecological theory and practical agricultural applications for environmental protection and crop productivity enhancement.