Summary The effects of exudates from strawberry roots on the growth of strawberries in hydroponic culture were investigated. Vegetative and reproductive growth in nutrient solution without activated charcoal (–AC) was lower than with AC (+AC). The root exudates adsorbed by the AC were extracted and analysed in a gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The compounds identified included lactic, benzoic, succinic, adipic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids. The allelopathic potential of these compounds were evaluated on strawberry plantlets. The results indicated that benzoic acid significantly inhibited the fresh weights of shoots, the dry weights of shoots and roots, and the maximum root length, at all concentrations tested. These results suggest that root exudates from strawberry plants may cause growth inhibition, and that the greatest inhibition was caused by benzoic acid.