Allelopathic potential of ground cover species onPinus resinosa seedlings

Abstract

Water extracts of foliage ofAster macrophyllus, Lonicera tatarica, Solanum dulcamara, Solidago gigantea, Prunus serotina, andRubus idaeus var.strigosus, collected from the ground vegetation of a red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation, were tested for potential allelopathic effects on seed germination, radicle elongation, and growth of red pine seedlings. Seed germination was not significantly affected by extracts, but radicle elongation of newly germinated seeds was reduced by up to 48% compared to controls. All extracts variously inhibited height growth, formation of secondary needles, and dry weight increment of young red pine seedlings during a seven-week experiment. Total dry weight of seedlings treated with Lonicera extract was only 46% that of control plants. Phosphorus concentration in needles treated with Lonicera or Solidago extracts was significantly lower than that of controls. Growth inhibition was not mediated by pH effects or osmotic potentials of the extracts. The data suggest that allelopathic inhibition of red pine is possible, but additional field experiments are needed to evaluate the significance of allelopathy in red pine plantations.