The invasive potential of a hybrid species: insights from soil chemical properties and soil microbial communities

作为适应性进化,入侵物种与本土物种的自然杂交威胁着全球生物多样性。然而,杂交种的潜在入侵机制尚未得到系统研究,尤其是在土壤化学性质和土壤微生物群落方面。在一个为期两年的田间试验中,对入侵种南美蟛蜞菊(Sphagneticola trilobata)和杂交蟛蜞菊(南美蟛蜞菊与本地蟛蜞菊S. calendulacea杂交)的土壤微生物群落、土壤解钾菌和解磷菌菌落数、土壤酶活性以及叶片光饱和速率进行了测定。结果表明：杂交蟛蜞菊土壤可溶性有机碳和解磷菌菌落数显著高于南美蟛蜞菊和本地蟛蜞菊。土壤酸性磷酸酶、总PLFA、细菌PLFA、真菌PLFA、纤维素酶、脲酶在三种处理间无显著差异。杂交蟛蜞菊光饱和光合速率、光合氮、磷和钾利用效率显著高于入侵种南美蟛蜞菊,但与本地蟛蜞菊无显著差异。杂交蟛蜞菊总生物量和根生物量显著高于本地蟛蜞菊。因此,与本地蟛蜞菊相比,杂交蟛蜞菊仍然有较高的入侵性,其未来可能加剧本地蟛蜞菊的灭绝。     

入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊和本土蟛蜞菊生长对土壤养分的响应

植物入侵对全球生态系统造成了严重威胁,土壤养分条件(养分水平和养分异质性)对外来植物的成功入侵有重要影响。为了探讨土壤养分条件对入侵植物与同属本地植物生长的影响,本研究以入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)和同属本地种蟛蜞菊(W.chinensis)为试验材料开展了温室控制实验。实验设置了低、中、高及异质性养分条件下的单种和混种两种种植方式,测定了每种植物总生物量,根、茎、叶生物量及分节数、根冠比等指标,并分析了土壤养分对二者生长的影响。结果表明:土壤养分水平增加显著促进了南美蟛蜞菊和本地蟛蜞菊的生长;土壤养分异质性显著增加了南美蟛蜞菊根生物量和根冠比,显著增加了本地蟛蜞菊的总生物量、根生物量和茎生物量;土壤养分水平和养分异质性对南美蟛蜞菊和本地蟛蜞菊的竞争响应均无显著影响;在土壤养分较高或较低时南美蟛蜞菊更容易入侵成功;在异质养分环境中,当南美蟛蜞菊生长处于高养斑块时更容易入侵成功。     

遮荫和氮养分对三裂叶蟛蜞菊生长、构件生物量分配和叶片PSⅡ功能的影响

为探查外来入侵植物三裂叶蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)对遮荫和氮养分的响应及其入侵性, 采用盆栽实验研究了遮荫(轻度遮荫-相对光强为42%; 重度遮荫-相对光强为12%)和不同氮养分(0、0.1、0.2 和0.4 g·kg^–1)对三裂叶蟛蜞菊生长、生物量分配以及叶片PSⅡ功能的影响。结果表明: 1)经轻度遮荫的植物叶片数、分枝数、总生物量、生长速率显著大于重度遮荫; 同一遮荫条件下, 随氮养分的增加, 茎生物量比增加、叶生物量比下降。2)重度遮荫降低了三裂叶蟛蜞菊叶片实际光化学效率(ФPSⅡ)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR), 对叶片PSⅡ反应中心有一定破坏作用; 对最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)的影响不显著(除0.2 g·kg^–1 氮水平外)。3)氮养分对叶片PSⅡ活性的影响随遮荫程度而变化,轻度遮荫下, 氮养分对叶片PSⅡ功能影响较小; 重度遮荫下, 随氮养分的增加, ФPSⅡ和ETR 先上升后下降, Fv/Fm 变化不显著。4)光强和氮养分的交互作用在三裂叶蟛蜞菊种群生长、竞争以及成功入侵过程中发挥着重要作用, 在光照较充足的生境中容易成功入侵。     

水位波动对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊种内及种间关系的影响

以外来入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊和本地近缘种蟛蜞菊为对象,通过温室模拟3种水位波动模式(水位无波动,水位波动模式分别为15 cm-0 cm-15 cm和0 cm-15 cm-0 cm)交叉5种定植模式(试验容器内分别为入侵种单株、本土种单株、入侵种6株、本土种6株以及2物种各3株混种)的试验,研究水位波动对入侵植物和本地近缘种生长繁殖性状及种内种间相互作用的影响.结果表明: 水位波动显著降低了南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊的总生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量、根生物量、茎长、节点数、叶片数及叶面积,对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊种内及种间竞争系数的影响均显著.水位波动改变了南美蟛蜞菊的种内和种间竞争关系,说明入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊对水位波动更为敏感,对环境改变表现出更强的适应性.     

番茄对不同养分水平下南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊化感作用的响应

外来入侵植物分泌的化感物质能够影响本地植物的生长生理特性,养分水平对入侵植物的化感潜力有重要影响。该文通过将番茄植株分别与同种番茄、南美蟛蜞菊、蟛蜞菊植株相邻原位种植,以15%、25%、50%、75%的Hoagland培养液模拟不同养分水平开展温室控制实验,探究在不同养分水平下入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊及其亲缘植物蟛蜞菊的化感作用对本地植物番茄叶绿素荧光参数及生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)番茄在75%养分水平下的叶绿素荧光参数和生物量显著优于其余3个养分水平。(2)随着养分水平降低,番茄叶片的PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、PSⅡ实际光合量子产量[Y(Ⅱ)]、光化学淬灭系数(qp)及植株的总生物量显著减少,非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)和植株根系生物量的分配比例增加。(3)在25% Hoagland培养液处理下,与南美蟛蜞菊混植番茄的F_v/F_m、Y(Ⅱ)、qp和总生物量显著低于与蟛蜞菊混植番茄,NPQ和根系生物量的分配比例显著高于与蟛蜞菊混植番茄。综上结果说明南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊可能通过根系分泌化感物质抑制番茄的生长发育,且南美蟛蜞菊的化感作用强于蟛蜞菊,而增加栽培基质中的养分水平可以显著降低南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊对番茄的化感胁迫作用。     

土壤真菌差异影响入侵豚草与本地植物生长及互作

采用温室盆栽实验,研究了本地植物土壤与豚草入侵地土壤中真菌对外来植物豚草和2种本地植物生长及对豚草与本地植物互作的影响。结果表明:在本地植物土壤中,杀真菌剂处理下,豚草单独种植、与本地植物狗尾草混合种植或与紫花苜蓿混合种植时,其生物量分别比未采用杀真菌剂处理高46.7%、39.1%和90.5%,但杀真菌剂对狗尾草及紫花苜蓿的生物量却没有显著影响;在豚草入侵地土壤中,与未采用杀真菌剂的处理相比,杀真菌剂处理使单独种植的豚草的生物量降低了44.3%,同时杀真菌剂也降低了本地植物狗尾草和紫花苜蓿的生物量,但杀真菌剂的施用对与狗尾草或紫花苜蓿混合种植的豚草的生物量却没有显著影响;进一步比较了本地植物土壤和豚草入侵土壤中真菌对植物生长的反馈作用,结果显示,在本地植物土壤中,真菌对豚草生长呈现负反馈,但在豚草入侵地土壤中,真菌对单独种植的豚草表现出正反馈,而且与本地植物土壤比较,土壤真菌对与本地植物混合种植的豚草的负反馈作用明显变小了。本研究结果为深入研究豚草入侵的土壤微生物学机制提供了一定的实验证据。     

不同氮水平下内生固氮菌对入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊生长策略的影响

很多因素可以影响外来植物的入侵性,其中内生菌可能扮演了极其重要的角色。为了探究内生固氮菌对入侵植物生长策略的影响,本研究分别在高和低两种氮水平下,种植接种和不接种内生固氮菌的入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Sphagneticola trilobata)和同属本地植物蟛蜞菊(S. calendulacea),对比研究它们的生长和氮含量。从南美蟛蜞菊茎段分离出内生固氮菌Kosakonia sp. WTB-JS007,发现其对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊这两种植物生长策略的影响存在显著差异,且这种差异不受氮水平的影响。在低氮处理下,接种WTB-JS007对蟛蜞菊的生长及植株氮含量没有显著影响,但显著提高了南美蟛蜞菊的地上生物量(30.48%),促进了匍匐茎的伸长,减少了地下生物量(56.58%),并提高了植株总氮含量(47.51%)。类似地,在高氮水平下,内生固氮菌亦显著影响南美蟛蜞菊地上部分的生长,但对蟛蜞菊生长的影响不显著。这些结果表明,内生固氮菌对入侵和非入侵植物生长、生物量分配及氮获取的影响存在显著差异,而这种生长策略的差异有利于入侵植物地上部分的快速生长与扩张,从而提高其入侵性。     

氮添加背景下土壤真菌和细菌对不同种源入侵植物乌桕生长特征的影响

为了解氮添加背景下土壤真菌和细菌对不同种源入侵植物生长的影响,该实验以本地和入侵地种源不同种群乌桕(Triadica sebifera)为研究对象,通过氮添加处理,施用细菌抑制剂(链霉素)和真菌抑制剂(扑海因)调控土壤细菌、真菌活性,探究土壤细菌和真菌对不同种源乌桕生长的影响,以揭示乌桕成功入侵机制,为有效预测和管理入侵植物提供理论依据。结果表明:1)入侵地种源乌桕在株高、叶片数和生物量方面均显著高于本地种源,入侵地种源乌桕相较于本地种源具有显著生长优势。2)添加细菌和真菌抑制剂显著降低了乌桕地上生物量,且乌桕生长对土壤细菌的依赖性更强。3)氮添加及其与土壤细菌和真菌的交互作用对于乌桕生长和资源分配有显著影响,增强了乌桕对资源的竞争优势,可能是影响乌桕入侵成功的重要因素。     

异质光照环境下克隆整合对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊种间关系的影响

很多入侵植物具有克隆性,克隆整合对入侵克隆植物生长和繁殖具有重要的贡献。自然界中,植物生长和繁殖所需的各种资源如光照、水分和矿质养分等在空间上分布通常是异质的,但关于异质环境下克隆整合对入侵植物和本土同属植物种间关系影响的研究相对缺乏。通过温室控制实验,将入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)和同属本土植物蟛蜞菊(W.chinensis)的分株对单独种植或者混合种植在异质性光照条件下,同时通过保持或者切断分株之间的连接来控制克隆整合效应的有无,研究异质光照环境下克隆整合对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊种间关系的影响。克隆整合对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊的生长和繁殖都有促进作用,且南美蟛蜞菊比蟛蜞菊从克隆整合中获益更多。与单独种植相比,两者混种对南美蟛蜞菊的叶生物量有显著影响,而对本地种蟛蜞菊的根生物量有显著影响。克隆整合和种间关系对南美蟛蜞菊的总生物量和叶生物量产生了显著的交互作用,而对蟛蜞菊各指标无显著影响。克隆整合状态显著影响了南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊的种间关系。这些结果表明,异质环境下克隆整合可以改变入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊和本土植物蟛蜞菊的生长性状及种间关系。     

Plant–soil feedback during biological invasions: effect of litter decomposition from an invasive plant (Sphagneticola trilobata) on its native congener (S. calendulacea)

生物入侵过程中的植物-土壤反馈：一种入侵植物的凋落物分解对其本地近缘植物的影响 植物入侵可通过正或负的植物-土壤反馈效应改变土壤的生物和非生物性质,从而影响入侵栖息地的土壤理化性质。许多入侵物种的凋落物分解可增加土壤养分,降低本地植物多样性,并导致进一步的植物入侵。关于入侵植物凋落物在不同土壤类型及深度分解及反馈效应的研究依然很少。本研究旨在明确入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Sphagneticola trilobata)凋落物在不同土壤类型和不同土壤深度条件下的分解情 况及其对本地近缘植物蟛蜞菊(S. calendulacea)生理生长的影响。将装有南美蟛蜞菊凋落物的尼龙袋加入到不同深度(即0、2、4 和6 cm)的砂土、营养土和粘土中,经6个月的分解后,回收凋落物袋并计算分解速率,随后在凋落物分解处理后的土壤中种植本地蟛蜞菊,并在生长期结束时测量其生理生态指标。研究结果表明,所有处理土壤类型中,凋落物在土壤深度为2和4 cm处分解后显著增加了土壤养分,而对本 地蟛蜞菊的叶片叶绿素、叶氮含量等生长指标表现为负效应。因此,入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊凋落物分解对土壤养分表现为正的反馈效应,而对本地植物蟛蜞菊的生长表现为负效应。我们的研究结果还表明,入侵植物的凋落物分解对土壤和本地物种的影响还因凋落物分解所在的土壤深度而显著不同。未来的研究应侧重于入侵栖息地中更多本地和入侵物种的植物-土壤反馈效应,以及更多土壤类型和土壤深度的入侵植物凋落物效应。     

丛枝菌根真菌促进南美蟛蜞菊生长及对难溶磷的吸收

为了解2种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)摩西管柄囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae, FM)和地表球囊霉(Glomus versiforme, GV)对入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)的生长和对难溶性磷酸盐利用的影响,采用沙培盆栽方式,研究了南美蟛蜞菊在接种AMF与添加难溶性磷酸盐的生长和磷含量的变化。结果表明,在磷限制环境下FM对南美蟛蜞菊的侵染率达55%～69%,GV的侵染率达到63%～80%。添加难溶性磷酸盐后,2种AMF均促进了南美蟛蜞菊茎的伸长(FM:+46%; GV:+65%)、总生物量的增加(FM:+27.2%; GV:+40%)和磷含量的增加(FM:+36.6%; GV:+40.7%)。对比FM,GV对植物利用难溶性磷有更显著的促进作用。因此,南美蟛蜞菊与2种AMF形成的共生体系可以促进植物生长和对营养资源的利用,提高对难溶性磷的吸收效率可能使得南美蟛蜞菊在营养贫乏的环境中更好地建立种群。     

Effects of leaf litter on inter-specific competitive ability of the invasive plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wedelia trilobata</Emphasis>

Allelochemicals released by invasive plants contribute to the successful invasion of new habitats. However, the relationship between allelopathic effects and competitive ability of invasive plants has not been characterized. We quantified the neighbor effects of Wedelia trilobata (family: Asteraceae) and the allelopathic effects of its leaf litter on two Asteraceae competitor species (invasive Eupatorium catarium and non-invasive Lactuca sativa) and on its own ramet growth. The seed germination rate and seedling biomass of the two competitor species decreased following treatment with W. trilobata leaf extracts. When co-cultured with W. trilobata, the total biomass of the two competitor species significantly decreased regardless of whether leaf extracts were present. Under low plant density co-culture conditions, W. trilobata leaf extracts enhanced the inhibitory effects on E. catarium. In contrast, W. trilobata leaf extracts promoted the growth of W. trilobata adventitious roots, resulting in increased competitive ability. Therefore, W. trilobata growth was promoted by its own allelochemicals in leaf extracts, whereas the growth of the invasive and non-invasive competitors was inhibited by the same chemicals. These responses facilitated the invasion by W. trilobata. Our study demonstrates that leaf litter of invasive plants may inhibit the growth of neighboring species to enhance the competitive ability of the invasive plants during the early stages of invasion.     

Different Degrees of Plant Invasion Significantly Affect the Richness of the Soil Fungal Community

Several studies have shown that soil microorganisms play a key role in the success of plant invasion. Thus, ecologists have become increasingly interested in understanding the ecological effects of biological invasion on soil microbial communities given continuing increase in the effects of invasive plants on native ecosystems. This paper aims to provide a relatively complete depiction of the characteristics of soil microbial communities under different degrees of plant invasion. Rhizospheric soils of the notorious invasive plant Wedelia trilobata with different degrees of invasion (uninvaded, low-degree, and high-degree using its coverage in the invaded ecosystems) were collected from five discrete areas in Hainan Province, P. R. China. Soil physicochemical properties and community structure of soil microorganisms were assessed. Low degrees of W. trilobata invasion significantly increased soil pH values whereas high degrees of invasion did not significantly affected soil pH values. Moreover, the degree of W. trilobata invasion exerted significant effects on soil Ca concentration but did not significantly change other indices of soil physicochemical properties. Low and high degrees of W. trilobata invasion increased the richness of the soil fungal community but did not pose obvious effects on the soil bacterial community. W. trilobata invasion also exerted obvious effects on the community structure of soil microorganisms that take part in soil nitrogen cycling. These changes in soil physicochemical properties and community structure of soil microbial communities mediated by different degrees of W. trilobata invasion may present significant functions in further facilitating the invasion process.     

Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> increases energy-use efficiency of invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wedelia trilobata</Emphasis> over its indigenous congener

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration is regarded as an important factor facilitating plants invasions by stimulating invasive species growth. However, the physiological mechanisms by which invasive plants increase at the expense of existing native plants are poorly understood. Plant growth is always related to energy-use process including energy assimilation and expenditure, and thus examination of energetic properties could provide mechanistic insight into growth responses to increased CO₂. The aims of this study were to examine the effect of rising CO₂ on the growth and energetic properties of alien invasive species (Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc.) and its native congener (Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck.) Merr.) in South China, and to determine if the specific energetic properties of invasive species at elevated CO₂ favoring its growth. Elevated CO₂ stimulated a greater increase in biomass production for invasive W. trilobata (58.9%) than for its indigenous congener (48.1%). Meanwhile, elevated CO₂ altered the energetic properties differently upon species. For invasive W. trilobata, elevated CO₂ significantly increased total energetic gain via photosynthetic activity (A _total), but decreased energetic cost of biomass construction (CC), and thus enhanced photosynthetic energy-use efficiency (PEUE) by 85.3%. In contrast, the indigenous W. chinensis showed a slight increase in PEUE by 43.8%. Additionally, W. trilobata individuals grown in elevated CO₂ increased energy allocation towards stems. Statistic analysis revealed significant associations between growth characteristics (relative growth rate and biomass) and energetic properties (CC and PEUE), suggesting the greater growth stimulation in invasive species could be partly explained by its specific energetic properties in elevated CO₂ concentration. The invasive species showed a greater increase in energy-use efficiency under elevated CO₂, which consequently facilitated its growth. It might be a physiological mechanism promoting success of invasion with ongoing increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration.     

The effect of allometric partitioning on herbivory tolerance in four species in South China

Herbivory tolerance can offset the negative effects of herbivory on plants and plays an important role in both immigration and population establishment. Biomass reallocation is an important potential mechanism of herbivory tolerance. To understand how biomass allocation affects plant herbivory tolerance, it is necessary to distinguish the biomass allocations resulting from environmental gradients or plant growth. There is generally a tight balance between the amounts of biomass invested in different organs, which must be analyzed by means of an allometric model. The allometric exponent is not affected by individual growth and can reflect the changes in biomass allocation patterns of different parts. Therefore, the allometric exponent was chosen to study the relationship between biomass allocation pattern and herbivory tolerance. We selected four species (Wedelia chinensis, Wedelia trilobata, Merremia hederacea, and Mikania micrantha), two of which are invasive species and two of which are accompanying native species, and established three herbivory levels (0%, 25% and 50%) to compare differences in allometry. The biomass allocation in stems was negatively correlated with herbivory tolerance, while that in leaves was positively correlated with herbivory tolerance. Furthermore, the stability of the allometric exponent was related to tolerance, indicating that plants with the ability to maintain their biomass allocation patterns are more tolerant than those without this ability, and the tendency to allocate biomass to leaves rather than to stems or roots helps increase this tolerance. The allometric exponent was used to remove the effects of individual development on allocation pattern, allowing the relationship between biomass allocation and herbivory tolerance to be more accurately explored. This research used an allometric model to fit the nonlinear process of biomass partitioning during the growth and development of plants and provides a new understanding of the relationship between biomass allocation and herbivory tolerance.     

Light limitation and litter of an invasive clonal plant,Wedelia trilobata,inhibit its seedling recruitment

Background and Aims

Invasive clonal plants have two reproduction patterns, namely sexual and vegetative propagation. However, seedling recruitment of invasive clonal plants can decline as the invasion process proceeds. For example, although the invasive clonal Wedelia trilobata (Asteraceae) produces numerous seeds, few seedlings emerge under its dense population canopy in the field. In this study it is hypothesized that light limitation and the presence of a thick layer of its own litter may be the primary factors causing the failure of seedling recruitment for this invasive weed in the field.

Methods

A field survey was conducted to determine the allocation of resources to sexual reproduction and seedling recruitment in W. trilobata. Seed germination was also determined in the field. Effects of light and W. trilobata leaf extracts on seed germination and seedling growth were tested in the laboratory.

Key Results

Wedelia trilobata blooms profusely and produces copious viable seeds in the field. However, seedlings of W. trilobata were not detected under mother ramets and few emerged seedlings were found in the bare ground near to populations. In laboratory experiments, low light significantly inhibited seed germination. Leaf extracts also decreased seed germination and inhibited seedling growth, and significant interactions were found between low light and leaf extracts on seed germination. However, seeds were found to germinate in an invaded field after removal of the W. trilobata plant canopy.

Conclusions

The results indicate that lack of light and the presence of its own litter might be two major factors responsible for the low numbers of W. trilobata seedlings found in the field. New populations will establish from seeds once the limiting factors are eliminated, and seeds can be the agents of long-distance dispersal; therefore, prevention of seed production remains an important component in controlling the spread of this invasive clonal plant.     

Different responses of invasive and native species to elevated CO2 concentration

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration is regarded as an important factor facilitating invasion. However, the mechanisms by which invasive plants spread at the expense of existing native plants are poorly understood. In this study, three invasive species (Mikania micrantha, Wedelia trilobata and Ipomoea cairica) and their indigenous co-occurring species or congeners (Paederia scandens, Wedelia chinensis and Ipomoea pescaprae) in South China were exposed to elevated CO₂ concentration (700 μmol mol^?1). The invasive species showed an average increase of 67.1% in photosynthetic rate, significantly different from the native species (24.8%). On average the increase of total biomass at elevated CO₂ was greater for invasive species (70.3%) than for the natives (30.5%). Elevated CO₂ also resulted in significant changes in biomass allocation and morphology of invasive M. micrantha and W. trilobata. These results indicate a substantial variation in response to elevated CO₂ between these invasive and native plant species, which might be a potential mechanism partially explaining the success of invasion with ongoing increase in atmospheric CO₂.     

Local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity both occurred in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wedelia trilobata</Emphasis> invasion across a tropical island

The role of the local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity of invasive species in their invasion of new environments has historically been a debatable issue, particularly at small spatial scales (e.g., different habitats within an island). We selected seven field sites across Hainan Island, Hainan Province, China, to investigate the role of local adaptation and/or phenotypic plasticity in the successful invasion of Wedelia trilobata by a field survey, molecular marker analysis, and common garden experiment. In the field survey, the clonal growth characteristics of W. trilobata showed significant differences among the seven sites, suggesting that the species was able to adapt to different environments. The mean phenotypic plasticity index of W. trilobata was higher than that of other invasive plant species (0.61 vs 0.48). The analysis of the inter-simple sequence repeat molecular markers of 420 individuals from the seven sites revealed a Shannon’s index that was similar to those of other invasive plants (0.29 vs 0.25). The nested analysis of the molecular variance in the genetic diversity of the population showed significant differences among the sites. In the common garden experiment, the growth characteristics of plants grown from the seven sites were significantly affected by light and density treatments but not by soil moisture. However, the responses of plants grown from different sites to light treatment varied. Plants from sunny sites had greater clonal traits than those from shady sites, indicating that local adaptation occurred in plant populations grown at some sites. Overall, our results implied that both phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation contributed to the successful invasion of W. trilobata across Hainan Island.     

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria improve the phytoremediation efficiency of Wedelia trilobata for Cu-contaminated soil

In a controlled experiment, we assessed the effect of phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (PSB) on the soil metal (Cu²⁺) phytoremediation by Wedelia trilobata and examined the effect of the interaction of Cu contamination and PSB on the growth of W. trilobata. We also explored the effect of the interaction of Cu contamination and PSB on the soil microflora. The results showed that the removal efficiency of Cu from soil by W. trilobata increased with an increase in the concentration of PSB, and the translocation factors of Cu (i.e., leaf:root and stem:root) were both significantly upregulated by PSB. The PSB significantly promoted the growth of W. trilobata; however, the effect of the Cu–PSB interaction on the leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of W. trilobata was not significant, whereas copper contamination had a significant negative influence on the soil microflora, PSB had a significant positive influence on the soil microflora. Thus, PSB improved the phytoremediation efficiency of W. trilobata in Cu-contaminated soil because of the positive influence on the soil microflora, improving soil quality, which then increased the growth of W. trilobata in Cu-contaminated soil. The vigorous growth of W. trlobata led to higher of Cu absorption and translocation from soil as the ultimate result.