Can hormesis of plant-released phytotoxins be used to boost and sustain crop production?

A great deal of work has been done to explore the hormetic potential of various herbicides to enhance crop growth and yield. However, the growth stimulatory potential of plant-released phytotoxins at low rates to enhance crop yield has not yet been realized, as most of the research has focused on the herbicidal potential of these phytotoxins. However, hormesis of plant-released phytotoxins is a more practical aspect, as these are present at low concentrations in field conditions. These phytotoxins are biodegradable and safe for the environment, and have the potential for crop enhancement both under controlled and field conditions. Low doses of plant-released phytotoxins have been reported to enhance crop growth by up to 50% under controlled conditions, and crop yield by up to 42% under field conditions. In this review, we have discussed hormesis of plant-released phytotoxins with examples. In addition, we discuss the potential for crop enhancement, the influence of different factors on the expression of hormesis, as well as the potential for both undesirable (in weeds) and desirable hormesis (in crop plants). The use of plant-released phytotoxins as growth regulators is also discussed, focusing on sustainable crop production. In future, phytotoxins may be utilized as a crop stimulator to enhance crop yield, especially in organic crop production systems.