FFA Floriculture Practice Test

What is the term for when a plant secretes a substance to inhibit the growth of another plant?

1. Photosynthesis

2. Allelopathy

3. Competition

4. Symbiosis

The correct answer is: Allelopathy

The term that describes when a plant secretes a substance to inhibit the growth of another plant is allelopathy. This phenomenon occurs when certain plants release allelochemicals into the environment, which can have detrimental effects on neighboring plants by suppressing their growth or affecting their development. Allelopathy is an important ecological strategy that some plants use to gain a competitive advantage for resources such as nutrients, water, and light. Photosynthesis refers to the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, mainly in the form of glucose, and is not related to the inhibition of other plants. Competition is a broader ecological term that describes the struggle between organisms for shared resources but does not specifically involve the secretion of substances. Symbiosis denotes a close and often long-term interaction between species, which may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful, but again does not involve the specific action of one plant releasing chemicals to inhibit another's growth. Thus, allelopathy is the most accurate term for this interaction between plants.