Effect of leaf water extracts of four Asteraceae alien invasive plants on germination performance of Lactuca sativa L. under acid deposition

Huiyuan Cheng,Shu Wang,Youli Yu,Congyan Wang,Mei Wei

doi:10.1007/s11258-021-01117-5

Abstract

Allelopathy of alien invasive plants (AIP) on plant germination performance is essential for their successful invasion. However, the allelopathy of AIP may be reformed or even strengthened under acid deposition. AIP in Asteraceae covers the uppermost number of AIP species at the family level presently in China. It is necessary to estimate the allelopathy of multiple Asteraceae AIP under acid deposition to address the mechanism driving their successful invasion, especially under acid deposition. However, research in this area is very restricted presently. This study purposes to estimate the allelopathy of four Asteraceae AIP, i.e., Conyza canadensis L. Cronq., Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., Aster subulatus Michx., and Bidens pilosa L., on germination performance of the cultivated Asteraceae plant species Lactuca sativa L. which is sensitive to allelochemicals under acid deposition with different levels of acidity. Of the four Asteraceae AIP, C. canadensis, E. annuus, and B. pilosa create noticeable allelopathy on germination performance of L. sativa. The allelopathy of the four Asteraceae AIP decreases in the following order: E. annuus, C. canadensis, B. pilosa, and A. subulatus. Acid deposition with a low level of acidity reduces the allelopathy of C. canadensis, E. annuus, and B. pilosa. Inversely, acid deposition with a high level of acidity elevates the allelopathy of B. pilosa. The progressively growing level of acid deposition with high acidity may facilitate the invasion process of B. pilosa via the improved level of allelopathy.

Highlights

Alien invasive plants (AIP) cause a significant effect on the ecosystem, especially the biodiversity and stability of plant community (Kiełtyk and Delimat 2019; Lyytinen and Lindström 2019; Wang et al 2020a)
Influences of allelopathy solution of the four Asteraceae alien invasive plants (AIP) and acidic solution on germination performance of L. sativa compared with control
All seed germination indices and root length of L. sativa were reduced under C. canadensis and E. annuus leaf extracts (P < 0.05; Figs. 1a‒f and 2b)

Summary

Introduction

Alien invasive plants (AIP) cause a significant effect on the ecosystem, especially the biodiversity and stability of plant community (Kiełtyk and Delimat 2019; Lyytinen and Lindström 2019; Wang et al 2020a). Several AIP can seriously endanger plant growth fitness, especially germination performance, mainly via the allelopathy mediated by the released allelochemicals (Wang et al 2020b; Gris et al 2019; He et al 2019; Lyytinen and Lindström 2019; Wei et al 2020). The reduced plant germination performance recruited by the raised allelopathy of AIP can significantly restrain their growth fitness (Wang et al 2020b; Gris et al 2019; He et al 2019; Lyytinen and Lindström 2019; Wei et al 2020).

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Results

Conclusion