Pioneers of Allelopathy: XVI. Udo Blum

Abstract

Udo Blum had a teaching and research career of 34 years. His primary role was teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. He authored or co-authored research publications on plant-plant allelopathic interactions, air pollution biology, and salt marsh biology. He retired in 2002 and has subsequently written a three-volume retrospective analysis of his research on plant-plant allelopathic interactions involving phenolic acids. His primary research goals were to understand: (i) how cinnamic and benzoic acids released from plants into the soil affect sensitive seedlings and soil and rhizosphere microorganisms, (ii) how phenolic acids are distributed and partitioned in seedling-microbe-soil-sand systems and (iii) how their effects on sensitive seedlings are modified by abiotic soil factors (soil pH, soil moisture, soil nutrients, presence of other organic compounds) and soil processes (microbial utilization and soil sorption) in laboratory and field model systems. In 1999 he received the Molisch Award from the International Allelopathic Society for his research contributions to our understanding of Plant-plant allelopathic interactions.