Abstract
Spreading of the plant species in new areas is supported by the hypothesis in which chemicals produced by alien species are allopathic to native plants. A novel weapon hypothesis was tested by using essential oil of dangerous alien species Heracleum mantegazzianum in laboratory conditions. Aboveground plant material was collected in south-east part of Slovakia, dried and hydrodistilled for essential oil isolation. Dominant compounds as octyl acetate (62.6%), hexyl 2-metylbutyrate (10.7%), hexyl isobutyrate (7.5%) and hexyl butyrate (6.5%) were identified by GC-MS. Potential phytotoxic activity was tested on three dicot plant species garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and on one monocot plant species wheat Triticum aestivum L. Germination of the seeds of model plant species after influencing by different doses of essential oil of H. mantegazzianum as well as the roots length was evaluated. Lepidium sativum L. and Raphanus sativus L. were generally not sensitive to applied doses of essential oil although a little stimulation effect at some concentrations prevailed over inhibition effect. Similarly, in monocot species Triticum aestivum L., stimulation was visible in both root length and root number at two or one highest doses, respectively.
Highlights
Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier et Levier belongs to the genus Apiaceae.It was introduced to Europe from central Asia (Caucasus) as an ornamental species
Total amount of essential oil (EO) hydrodistilled from the dried samples of giant hogweed collected on July was
The aims of the study were based on the novel weapon hypothesis
Summary
Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier et Levier (giant hogweed) belongs to the genus Apiaceae. It was introduced to Europe from central Asia (Caucasus) as an ornamental species. The plant is considered to be extremely dangerous in Slovakia as well as in other European countries as Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and countries of Benelux, Great Britain etc. Giant hogweed is a plant of impressive growth. In the conditions characteristic for central Europe, it grows from 2 until 5 m. In original ecosystem it grows only until 1.5 m high. Plant is monocarpic [1], which means that under natural conditions, it dies after fructification [8].
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