Allelopathy of Taxus chinensis var. mairei on Camptotheca acuminata seedling growth and identification of the active principles

Abstract

ABSTRACT The root extracts and root exudates from the Taxus chinensis var. mairei had significant promote effects on growth of Camptoteca acuminata seedlings. Four taxane chemicals, cephalomannine, 10-deacetylbacatin III, paclitaxel and 7-Epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel, were isolated from T. chinensis var. mairei root extracts and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis. The chemicals were detected in T. chinensis var. mairei root exudates, rhizosphere soils, and their concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 5.90 μg/g. At an approximate concentration determined in T. chinensis var. mairei root exudates, all four chemicals significantly promoted the growth of C. acuminata seedlings. Therefore, four chemicals from T. chinensis var. mairei root exudates may act as allelochemicals accelerating growth of C. acuminata seedling. There were significant relationships between growth of C. acuminata seedlings, soil properties, enzyme activities and microbial community under allelochemicals’ application. The results provide a reference for in-depth understanding of C. acuminata and T. chinensis var. mairei interactions.