Transcriptome analysis reveals that barnyard grass exudates increase the allelopathic potential of allelopathic and non-allelopathic rice (Oryza sativa) accessions.

Background Allelopathy in rice (Oryza sativa) is a chemically induced response that is elevated by the exogenous application of chemical compounds and barnyard grass root exudates. An in-depth understanding of the response mechanisms of rice to chemical induction is necessary for the identification of target genes for increasing the allelopathic potential of rice. However, no previous studies have evaluated the transcriptomic changes associated with allelopathy in rice in response to barnyard grass exudates treatment. Thus, the aim of the present study was to reveal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in allelopathic and non-allelopathic rice seedlings treated with barnyard grass exudates to identify target allelopathy genes.