Abstract
The invasive species Solidago canadensis and S. gigantea are known for having the potential to inhibit their neighbours through allelopathy. However, there are no data on allelopathic properties of the natural interspecific hybrid S. ?niederederi and no investigations comparing the allelopathic potential of native and invasive Solidago species. We therefore studied the allelopathic effect of aqueous leaf extracts of S. virgaurea, S. canadensis, S. gigantea and S. ?niederederi on two congeneric pairs of species (Festuca and Solidago) occurring naturally in communities with the tested Solidago species. Germination and seedling growth of Festuca rubra were inhibited by all Solidago extracts more than were those characteristics of F. pratensis, while S. canadensis was more sensitive to its own and congeneric extracts than was S. ?niederederi. The effect of leaf type (green or withered) on Festuca seedling growth was target species-specific, while seed germination was more suppressed by green leaf extracts. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that invasive plant species have stronger persistent allelopathic effects on native plants compared to their native congeners.
Highlights
Nowadays, approximately 6.2 new species capable of naturalisation arrive each year in Europe (Lambdon et al 2008)
The effect of leaf type on Festuca seedling growth was target species-specific, while seed germination was more suppressed by green leaf extracts
Stock solutions of green leaves of 100, 50, 10, 5, 1 and 0.5% concentration were used in the S. canadensis germination experiment, while stock solutions of only 5, 1 and 0.5% concentration were used in the S. ×niederederi germination experiment
Summary
Approximately 6.2 new species capable of naturalisation arrive each year in Europe (Lambdon et al 2008). The success of alien species in new territories depends on multiple factors acting in all spatiotemporal stages of invasion: transport, colonisation, establishment and landscape spread (Theoharides & Dukes 2007). Allelopathy is defined as any direct or indirect harmful effect of one plant on another through production and release of chemical compounds (Rice 2012). Such a chemical compound or group of compounds released from invasive plant parts by leaching, root exudation, volatilisation or residue decomposition inhibits the growth and germination of members of the recipient plant community (Zedler & Kercher 2004; Abhilasha et al 2008). Allelopathy is usually interspecific (Singh et al 2010), while intraspecific allelopathy, commonly known as autotoxicity, occurs when toxic chemical substances released by a plant into the environment inhibit germination and growth of the same plant species (Singh et al 2010; Li et al 2016)
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