Abstract
In order to explore how plant autotoxicity changes with climate warming, the autotoxicity of P. schrenkiana needles' water extract, organic extract fractions, and key allelochemical DHAP was systemically investigated at the temperature rising 2 and 4°C based on the data‐monitored soil temperature during the last decade in the stage of Schrenk spruce regeneration (seed germination and seedling growth). The results showed that the criterion day and night temperatures were 12°C and 4°C for seed germination, and 14°C and 6°C for seedling growth, respectively. In the presence of water extract, the temperature rise of 2°C significantly inhibited the germination vigor and rate of P. Schrenkiana seed, and a temperature rise of 4°C significantly increased the inhibition to the seedling growth (P < 0.05). Among the three organic fractions, the low‐polar fraction showed to be more phytotoxic than the other two fractions, causing significant inhibitory effects on the seed germination and growth even at low concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, and the inhibition effect was enhanced as temperature increased. The temperature rise significantly enhanced the promotion effect of DHAP, while the inhibition effect of temperature rise became less important with increasing concentration of DHAP. This investigation revealed that autotoxicity of P. schrenkiana was affected by the climate warming. As expected, it provided an insight into the mechanism and effectiveness of allelopathy in bridging the causal relationship between forest evolution and climate warming.
Highlights
The phenomenon of one plant’s growth inhibited by chemicals released from another plant into environment is generally defined as allelopathy (Callaway and Vivanco 2006)
Field observations at different altitudes in Tianshan Mountains indicated that the rush period of the spruce seed germination appeared in early May to mid June, the critical period of the sprout growth appeared in late June to late July, and the plants grew very slowly after August due to more rain and snow
In the seedling growth periods, the maximum soil temperatures during the day (18.3°C) and night (8.8°C) appeared at GL site, and the minimum soil temperatures of 12.3°C during the day appeared at ZS site, while the minimum soil temperatures of 4.9°C during the night appeared at GL site with altitude 2600 m and State forestry bureau (SFB) site with altitude 2700 m
Summary
The phenomenon of one plant’s growth inhibited by chemicals released from another plant into environment is generally defined as allelopathy (Callaway and Vivanco 2006). Autotoxicity has been documented in a number of coniferous species and believed to be involved in natural and managed ecosystems (Fernandez et al 2008). It is still under debate whether and how allelopathy drive forest succession, ecosystem-level alleopathic effect has been argued as a cause for regeneration failure of conifer, evidenced by examples from sitka spruce, scots pine, norway spruce, black spruce, red pine,
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