Abstract
We examined allelopathic effects and underlying mechanisms of Cinnamomum migao on its associated species Liquidambar formosana. We assessed effects of aqueous extracts of C. migao pericarp, leaf, and rhizosphere soil at different concentrations on seed germination, seedling growth, and physiology of L. formosana. All extracts inhibited L. formosana seed germination, with obvious inhibition at high concentrations (50 mg mL−1). All extracts promoted the height and ground diameter of seedlings, with the highest promotion achieved with aqueous leaf extract at a concentration of 1 mg mL−1 and aqueous pericarp and rhizosphere soil extracts at a concentration of 5 mg mL−1. All extracts promoted soluble protein accumulation in L. formosana seedlings, with the highest accumulation achieved with aqueous pericarp extracts. Aqueous leaf extract promoted soluble starch accumulation. Aqueous pericarp extract at concentrations of >10 mg mL−1 significantly increased soluble sugar content. Aqueous leaf and rhizosphere soil extracts at concentrations of >5 mg mL−1 increased proline accumulation. All extracts at concentrations of >1 mg mL−1 significantly increased malondialdehyde content. Aqueous pericarp and rhizosphere soil extracts at concentrations of 10 and 0.5 mg mL−1, respectively, promoted superoxide dismutase activity. Activities of soil urease, polyphenol oxidase, and catalase were significantly increased when the concentration of aqueous pericarp and leaf extracts exceeded 5 mg mL−1, and the activity of soil acid phosphatase significantly increased when the concentration of all extracts were 5 mg mL−1. According to the synthetic allelopathic index, the low- and medium-concentration extracts all showed a promoting effect, whereas high concentrations exhibited obvious inhibitory effects; furthermore, the comprehensive effect value of leaf water extraction was higher than that of the pericarp and rhizosphere soil. Thus, allelopathy can affect the long-term co-existence of C. migao and L. formosana.
Highlights
Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon related to the effects of chemicals produced by an organism on the growth, development, and distribution of other plants in natural communities or agricultural systems [1]
The higher the concentration of the extracts, more robust was their inhibitory effect on seed germination of the recipient plants, which is consistent with previously reported trends [36,37,38]
We found that the content of AN, Available phosphorus (AP), and AK in the soil of L. formosana seedlings did not change significantly under different aqueous extracts treatment
Summary
Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon related to the effects of chemicals produced by an organism on the growth, development, and distribution of other plants in natural communities or agricultural systems [1]. Some plants and microorganisms release certain chemicals into the environment through rhizosphere secretion, elution, volatilization, seed germination, and pollination [2]. Chemical ecological factors commonly existing in forest ecosystems have a significant impact on the structure, function, efficiency, and development of forest communities [3]. The important roles of plant allelopathy in intraspecific and interspecific relationships, community succession, species distribution, and biological invasion [4,5,6,7]. Have garnered much attention, rendering studies on these topics a hotspot of ecological research. Many scholars have conducted extensive studies on mechanisms underlying and factors influencing
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