Effects of aqueous extract of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) on seed germination and radicle elongation of Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea

Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the allelopathic potentials of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) on seed germination and radicle elongation of Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) Presl var. plantaginea (Roxb.) Solms-Laubat. To compare the relative allelopathic potentials of rice plants at different growth stages, aqueous extracts of dried tissues were obtained from the seeds, husks, and seedlings harvested 10, 20, 40 and 120 days after seeding. When M. vaginalis seeds were incubated in solutions containing aqueous extracts, significant increases in the germination rate were observed for all the aqueous extracts except for the extract of 10 d-old shoots at higher dosages. When partitioned with ethyl acetate, the germination-promoter(s) in the aqueous extracts remained in the aqueous phase while some inhibitors were extracted with ethyl acetate. In contrast, aqueous shoot extracts added to the incubation media at the same dosage for promotion of seed germination inhibited radicle elongation of M. vaginalis, indicating that the sensitivity of the weed varies between these two growth stages.     

侧柏不同器官水提取物对油松种子萌发和幼苗生长的他感效应

研究了侧柏（Platycladus orientalis）根、枝、叶、果实不同浓度水提取物及枝叶挥发油对油松种子萌发和幼苗生长的他感效应。结果表明：侧柏各器官及挥发油都含有化感物质,均对油松种子萌发及幼苗生长表现出“高抑低促”效应,而且低浓度时的促进作用明显强于高浓度时的抑制作用。与对照相比,在浓度为2 mg·mL^-1时,侧柏根水提取物对油松幼苗根长和鲜重的促进能力最强,其根长和鲜重分别比对照提高了79.78%和376.60%;侧柏叶水提取物对油松幼苗苗高促进能力最强,比对照提高了102.41%;侧柏枝水提取物对油松种子发芽的促进能力最强,发芽率比对照提高了65.63%。而在浓度为30 mg·mL^-1时,除了侧柏根和枝水提取物对油松种子萌发（87.50%）和鲜重（85.11%）表现出明显的抑制作用外,其它提取物对油松幼苗根长和苗高生长的抑制作用均不明显。侧柏枝叶挥发油对油松种子萌发,幼苗生长均表现为促进作用,特别对油松种子萌发具有显著的促进作用,其促进率达70.37%。说明侧柏和油松混交,可能有利于油松树木生长及生产力的提高。     

栎属7种植物种子的发芽抑制物质研究

运用系统溶剂法和生物测定法,以栎属7种植物种子为材料,研究了其种皮、胚(胚及周围部分子叶)和子叶(远离胚端2/3子叶)1.0 g/mL和0.5 g/mL浓度甲醇等浸提液以及各有机相对白菜种子萌发的影响。结果表明:栓皮栎、锐齿栎、蒙古栎、沼生栎和麻栎甲醇浸提液均能显著降低白菜种子发芽率、根长和苗高,且对发芽率的抑制作用逐渐降低;夏栎和房山栎甲醇浸提液对白菜种子发芽率没有显著影响,但对根长和苗高有一定的抑制作用;种子不同部位甲醇浸提液的抑制作用表现为胚>子叶>种皮,且甲醇高浓度浸提液的抑制作用大于低浓度的抑制作用;甲醇相对白菜种子发芽率、苗高或根长的抑制作用最强,其次是乙酸乙酯相,其它溶剂相萃取液的抑制作用不明显。栎属种子甲醇浸提液及各有机相对白菜种子苗高和根长的抑制作用强于对发芽率的影响,说明栎属种子中所含抑制物质主要是限制自身根和芽的生长,可能是造成延迟萌发和出苗不整齐的原因。     

冷蒿对三种禾本科植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感作用

研究了冷蒿茎叶水浸提液及冷蒿斑块土壤对羊草草原3种禾本科植物(羊草、克氏针茅和糙隐子草)种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:冷蒿茎叶水浸提液使受试植物种子的发芽指数降低,平均发芽时间延长.羊草、克氏针茅和糙隐子草幼苗苗高及克氏针茅幼苗根长均受冷蒿茎叶水浸提液抑制;浸提液浓度≥0.075g.ml-1时显著抑制羊草幼苗根长生长,≤0.05g.ml-1时则无显著影响;而茎叶水浸提液对糙隐子草幼苗根长有"低促高抑"的作用.冷蒿斑块土壤抑制受试植物幼苗生长;3种植物对冷蒿化感效应的敏感性依次为克氏针茅羊草糙隐子草,且幼苗根长的敏感性均大于苗高.     

Evaluation of the allelopathic potential of five South African mesic grassland species

The recent success of Aristida junciformis Trin. and Rupr. and Eragrostis curvula Schrad. Nees in dominating South African grasslands has posed agricultural and ecological threats. With the objective of examining if the current success of the species is related to allelopathy, the present study assessed the allelopathic potential of five common perennial grassland species (Poaceae). Aqueous extracts prepared by soaking separately 2, 10, 25 and 40 g of leaf and root material in 100 mL of distilled-water for 36 h were bioassayed using a biotest species i.e. Grand Rapids lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L. cv.). Species, dilution level and plant-part had a highly significant (P < 0.001) effect on germination percentage, as well as shoot and root elongation of the biotest species. At higher concentrations, the leaf extracts of all species showed significant inhibitory activities which declined with increases in dilution level. A. junciformis, E. curvula and Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) BK Simon and SWL Jacobs. demonstrated the highest degree of inhibition in germination percentage and subsequent seedling length; with complete inhibition recorded at dilution levels ≥25 % w/v. At high concentration levels, root extracts of all species, except Themeda triandra Forssk. exhibited significant inhibitory effects on germination; with Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Staph being most inhibitory. Relatively speaking, E. curvula, A. junciformis and M. maximus showed the highest degree of inhibition. These findings suggest that these three species possess strong allelopathic potential. Such an allelopathic supremacy may contribute to their dominance in natural grasslands. Further studies, however, are still required to isolate responsible phytochemicals and to better understand if allelopathic advantage is the key factor contributing to population dynamics in the field.     

Differential belowground allelopathic effects of leaf and root of Mikania micrantha

This study evaluates the relative contributions of leaves and roots to the belowground allelopathic effects of Mikania micrantha. The hypothesis that leaves contribute more to the allelopathic effect than roots was experimentally tested. We assessed the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts from Mikania leaves and roots on the seed germination and seedling growth of two co-occurring woody plants in southern China, Lagerstroemia indica L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. The results showed that the aqueous extracts from Mikania leaves and roots had inhibitory effects on the woody species. Allelopathic activity depended on the concentration of the extracts, target species, and the extract sources (i.e., leaves vs. roots of Mikania). Leaf extract showed stronger allelopathic effects than root extract on germination percentage, initial germination time, speed of germination, and shoot height; while root extract had greater allelopathic effects on roots than leaf extract. The latter phenomenon might greatly promote the invasion success of Mikania due to more direct and effective allelopathy of root. Our results suggest that allelopathy of root extract on belowground biomass might be greater than that of leaf extract for some species in contrast allelopathy of leaf extract on belowground biomass might also be greater than that of root extract for other species, at least for their effects on root growth of the target species.     

云雾山铁杆蒿茎叶浸提液对封育草地四种优势植物的化感效应

为了揭示铁杆蒿群落在植被演替中的作用,通过研究铁杆蒿茎叶浸提液对铁杆蒿草地4种优势植物(百里香、大针茅、本氏针茅和赖草)的种子萌发及幼苗生长的干扰,结果表明:高浓度的铁杆蒿浸提液(甲醇浸提液和水浸提液)使得百里香、大针茅、本氏针茅和赖草的种子发芽指数降低,发芽率、芽长和根长低于对照,种子平均发芽时间延长达1.13-2.16 d。而低浓度浸提液(0.005 g/mL)使得百里香的发芽要高于对照11.63%(水浸提液)、15.12%(甲醇浸提液)。在幼苗生长期,铁杆蒿浸提液对4种受试植物幼苗芽和根的生长受到不同程度的抑制,不同浓度的浸提液对植物的化感作用强度不同,随浓度的增加,抑制作用越强,0.1 g/mL相对其他浓度有显著性差异;其中0.005 g/mL浸提液对本氏针茅和赖草的幼苗生长有促进作用,幼根生长高出对照19.00%、16.06%,水浸提液对幼芽促进了2.33%、9.06%,在0.1 g/mL浓度下,本氏针茅或大针茅的生长完全受到抑制,芽长和根长抑制率为100%;同一浓度下的不同浸提液对植物的抑制作用也不同,其中百里香对铁杆蒿浸提液的敏感度是最低的;甲醇浸提液的化感作用要强于水浸提液。在封育过程中,百里香群落向铁杆蒿群落的过渡,铁杆蒿的化感作用是该草地演替的一个重要影响因子。     

Allelopathic Potential and Mechanism of Rosebay Willowherb [<i>Chamaenerion angustifolium</i> (L.) Scop.] Demonstrated on Model Plant Lettuce

Allelopathic plants are important resources for the discovery of bioherbicides. Rosebay willowherb [Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. syn. Epilobium angustifolium L.] widely distributes in Western Asia, Europe, and North America, and behaves as a dominant species within the community due to the production of substances that restrict growth of other plants. This study aims at investigating the allelopathic potential of rosebay willowherb by evaluation of the effects of aqueous extracts from different parts on seed germination and seedling growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), as well as measuring the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and structural analysis of root tips via scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. It was observed that the aqueous extracts from the leaves of rosebay willowherb had the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination index, germination energy and total germination of lettuce seeds, followed by capsular fruits and flowers, and the inhibition effect of stems was the weakest. All aqueous extracts (100 mg/mL) showed a significant inhibitory effect on radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings. Additionally, after treatment with the aqueous extract of rosebay willowherb leaves, accumulation of reactive oxygen species increased in columella cells, which correlated with disruption of root tip structure.     

外来入侵植物银胶菊水提物对三叶鬼针草和茶条木种子萌发的化感作用

以伴生草本植物三叶鬼针草和能源木本植物茶条木为受试植物,初步研究了外来入侵植物银胶菊根、茎、花水浸提液对二者种子萌发的化感效应。根据发芽率、化感效应敏感指数、发芽速率可以看出,银胶菊不同部位的浸提液在不同浓度下对三叶鬼针草的种子萌发的影响力不同;而对茶条木种子萌发无明显的作用。为选择适宜植物,生物替代防治银胶菊提供依据。     

Allelopathic potential of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) germplasm resources of Yunnan Province in southwest China

A laboratory bioassay was conducted to determine the allelopathic potentials of aqueous extracts from either roots or leaves of seventeen sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam)] cultivars (SP0, SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP9, SP10, SP11, SP13, SP14, SP15, SP16, SP18, and SP19). Most inhibitory rates on Lactuca sativa calculated for leaf or root extracts from the seventeen sweet potato cultivars exhibited positive values and significantly increased with increasing concentration. Germination was totally inhibited at a concentration of 0.05 g·mL^?1 for leaf water extracts of SP13, SP15, SP18 and at a concentration of 0.05 g·mL^?1 for both leaf and root water extracts of SP19. Inhibition of root length was clearly greater than inhibition of shoot length for both leaf and root water extracts. Biomass inhibition increased with increasing concentration, but some cultivars showed stimulatory effects at low concentrations, and inhibition was generally more pronounced for root water extracts than for leaf water extracts. Moreover, most synthetical inhibitory rates for both leaf and root water extracts from the seventeen cultivars exhibited positive values and significantly increased with increasing concentration. Comparing the synthetical inhibitory rates for both leaf and root water extracts among the seventeen cultivars, SP19, SP6, SP11, and SP7 had the highest allelopathic inhibition. The inhibitory activity on germination index was the greatest, followed by germination rate, root length, biomass, and shoot length in all bioassays. Inhibition by leaf water extracts was generally greater than inhibition by root water extracts, except in the case of shoot length or biomass. Overall, we conclude that all seventeen sweet potato cultivars have strong inhibitory effects on L. sativa, but that these effects vary with cultivar and plant part, with SP19, SP6, SP11, and SP7 exhibiting the highest rates of allelopathic inhibition.     

外来红树植物拉关木对乡土种桐花树和正红树的化感作用研究

为了探究外来红树植物拉关木对乡土红树植物的化感作用,该研究观察了不同浓度(0.1、0.3、0.5g·mL~(-1))的拉关木根、叶水浸提液对乡土红树植物桐花树和正红树的胚轴(种子)萌发、幼苗生长及叶片抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1)拉关木水浸提液对桐花树种子的成苗率、萌发指数和根长均存在抑制作用,其中对根长的抑制作用随水浸提液浓度的提高而增强。(2)根水浸提液对桐花树幼苗的根长、苗高、生物量等生长指标的影响总体上均表现为低浓度促进,高浓度抑制。(3)拉关木水浸提液对正红树胚轴的萌发率、萌发指数、生长指标均表现为促进作用,且根水浸提液0.1、0.3 g·mL~(-1)处理组的芽长以及根、叶水浸提液0.1、0.3 g·mL~(-1)处理组的生物量显著大于对照组;拉关木水浸提液对正红树幼苗的生物量也表现为促进作用。(4)抗性生理方面,随着拉关木水浸提液浓度的升高,桐花树和正红树幼苗SOD活性降低,正红树幼苗POD活性在根水浸提液0.3 g·mL~(-1)和叶水浸提液0.1 g·mL~(-1)处理组显著高于对照组。以上结果表明,不同乡土植物对拉关木化感作用的敏感性不同,拉关木水浸提液抑制了桐花树的生长,而对正红树的生长则表现出一定程度的促进作用。     

铁核桃根与叶水浸提液对果园间作绿肥植物的化感作用及其生理机制

以西南地区具有代表性的16种绿肥植物为受体材料,采用培养皿药膜法研究了铁核桃(Juglans sigillata)根水浸提液对受体种子发芽率及幼苗鲜重、干重的化感效应;并进一步研究了铁核桃根、叶水浸提液和胡桃醌对化感效应存在明显差异的4种绿肥植物(绿豆、红三叶、白三叶、花生)种子萌发与幼苗生长以及抗氧化酶特性的影响,以筛选适宜中国西南地区核桃园种植的绿肥植物,探讨核桃根和凋落物对绿肥作物的化感作用机制。结果表明:(1)铁核桃根水浸提液对绿豆的发芽率没有影响,但对绿豆幼苗鲜重和干重有显著抑制作用,而对其他15种绿肥的发芽率和鲜重、干重均有抑制作用。(2)胡桃醌显著抑制绿豆种子萌发,而铁核桃根或叶水浸提液对绿豆种子萌发没有影响。(3)铁核桃根或叶水浸提液以及胡桃醌对绿肥植物幼苗生长的化感效应趋势一致,但核桃根或叶水浸提液的化感效应强于胡桃醌。(4)绿豆幼苗在铁核桃根或叶水浸提液以及胡桃醌处理下,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)的活性均高于其他3种(红三叶、白三叶、花生)受体幼苗,表明绿豆清除活性氧能力高,细胞受损害程度较低,受化感作用影响最弱。研究认为,绿豆为适宜中国西南地区幼龄核桃园种植的间作绿肥植物。     

Allelopathic effects of switchgrass on redroot pigweed and crabgrass growth

Non-native invasive plant species influence plant community composition and competitively eradicate native species. However, there is doubt regarding how global invasive species increase and explosively interfere with native plants. Invasive plants always have strong allelopathic potential. In this study, allelopathic effects of switchgrass on redroot pigweed and crabgrass growth were investigated by field and laboratory experiments. Within a 0.4-m distance of switchgrass, density and shoot biomass of native species were significantly suppressed in the field, with 95.1% and 93.0% inhibition on density of redroot pigweed and crabgrass and with 99.0% and 97.7% inhibition on shoot biomass, respectively, during the third growing season. Significant inhibitory effects on shoot and root biomass were observed at the 5:5 (switchgrass–native species) proportion in glass bottles, by 41.57% and 51.21% for shoot and root biomass of redroot pigweed and by 33.42% and 56.95% for shoot and root biomass of crabgrass, respectively. Results of a glass bottle experiment showed that shoot and root biomass of redroot pigweed and crabgrass could be significantly inhibited by contact with switchgrass root. Results of a Petri dish experiment showed that aqueous extracts of switchgrass significantly inhibited germination process of both species at high concentrations, with 90.74% and 18.62% inhibition on germination rate and plumule length of redroot pigweed and with 63.59%, 16.38%, and 19.92% inhibition on germination rate, plumule, and radicle lengths of crabgrass, respectively, at the concentration of 0.1 g·mL^?1. This report demonstrated that switchgrass had allelopathic effects on redroot pigweed and crabgrass growth.

     

本氏针茅根际土提取物对本氏针茅及其优势种种子萌发的影响

以本氏针茅及其优势种大针茅和百里香种子为受体,采用生物检测的方法研究了0(对照)、0.1、0.2和0.5g/mL本氏针茅根际土甲醇浸提液和水浸提液对3种受体种子萌发的影响,以探究草地演替过程中物种间的生态关系和化感作用的表现形式。结果显示:(1)甲醇浸提液对3种受体种子的发芽均有抑制作用;水浸提液对本氏针茅发芽有促进作用,对百里香有部分促进作用,而对大针茅有抑制作用。(2)甲醇浸提液对本氏针茅和大针茅胚根和胚芽生长无显著影响,而抑制百里香胚根和胚芽的生长;水浸提液对本氏针茅胚根生长无显著影响,对本氏针茅胚芽生长具有显著促进作用,而对其它两种受体胚根和胚芽均无显著影响。(3)各种浓度甲醇浸提液对大针茅和百里香生长表现出了化感综合抑制效应,对本氏针茅生长于0.2g/mL时表现出化感综合抑制效应,其它2种浓度(0.1、0.5g/mL)表现为化感综合促进效应;水浸提液对本氏针茅和百里香表现为化感综合促进效应,而对大针茅表现为化感综合抑制效应。研究表明,本氏针茅根际土甲醇浸提液和水浸提液的化感物质存在差异;不同受体对同一浸提液反应不同,同一受体对不同浸提液的反应也不同。     

Allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of three weed species on the growth and leaf chlorophyll content of bread wheat

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic effect of weeds (Avena fatua, Melilotus officinalis and Polypogon hissaricus) on germination, growth, dry biomass and chlorophyll concentration of three cultivars of wheat (Ata Habib, Pirsabaq and Serin). In germination test, different concentrations of aqueous extracts (5, 10 and 15?g/l) of the three weeds significantly reduced percent germination; however, 15?g/l extract of M. officinalis resulted in complete failure of germination of cultivar Pirsabaq. In pot culture, root and shoot length, chlorophyll concentration and seedling dry biomass of the three wheat varieties showed differential responses to different weeds. Aqueous extract at 15?g/l of A. fatua increased root and shoot length and dry biomass of cultivar Pirsabaq; however, these parameters were significantly retarded in other two wheat cultivars by extract of weeds. Moisture content of the cultivars did not show any response to allelopathic stress of the weeds. In contrast, chlorophyll concentration in Pirsabaq and Serin was significantly increased by aqueous extract of all the weeds but reduced it in cultivar Ata Habib by 50%. In general, Ata Habib was found to be the most sensitive cultivar to the imposed allelopathic stress. The phytotoxic potential of three weeds was found in the order of A. fatua?>?M. officinalis?>?P. hissaricus.     

Potential allelopatic effects of stilbenoids and flavonoids from leaves of Carex distachya Desf.

The potential allelopathic effects of 14 stilbenoids and five flavonoids, isolated from leaves of Carex distachya Desf., were evaluated on the seed germination and seedling growth of three coexisting Mediterranean species (Dactylis hispanica, Petrorhagia velutina, and Phleum subulatum). The structures of the metabolites have been elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic features (1D and 2D NMR experiments and EI–MS and ESI–MS data). The bioassays showed species-specific effects of the metabolites from C. distachya, specially on the plant growth (root and shoot elongation) which resulted significantly stimulated or inhibited at 10⁻⁴ M concentration. The effects on root elongation is generally greater than the shoot growth at all the tested concentrations (10⁻⁴–10⁻⁸ M). Cluster of biological data showed interesting relationships between the chemical structures of the compounds and their biological effects.     

A novel substance with allelopathic activity in Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the oldest living tree species and has been widely used in traditional medicine. Leaf extracts of ginkgo, such as the standardized extract EGb761, have become one of the best-selling herbal products. However, no bioactive compound directed at plants has been reported in this species. Therefore, we investigated possible allelopathic activity and searched for allelopathically active substances in ginkgo leaves. An aqueous methanol leaf extract inhibited the growth of roots and shoots of garden cress (Lepidium sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), timothy (Phleum pratense) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) seedlings. The extract was purified by several chromatographic runs and an allelopathically active substance was isolated and identified by spectral analysis to be the novel compound 2-hydroxy-6-(10-hydroxypentadec-11-enyl)benzoic acid. The compound inhibited root and shoot growth of garden cress and timothy at concentrations greater than 3 μM. The activity of the compound was 10- to 52-fold that of nonanoic acid. These results suggest that 2-hydroxy-6-(10-hydroxypentadec-11-enyl)benzoic acid may contribute to the allelopathic effect caused by ginkgo leaf extract. The compound may also have potential as a template for the development of new plant control substances.     

毛竹浸提液对苦槠幼苗生长的化感效应

为探讨毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)扩张过程中潜在的化感作用,选择苦槠(Castanopsis sclerophylla(Lindl)Schott)为研究对象。采用水浸提的方法,用毛竹茎叶、枯落物和土壤3部分浸提液浇灌苦槠幼苗,以蒸馏水处理作为对照,对比分析质量浓度分别为0.1、0.05、0.02 g/mL的3个浓度梯度浸提液处理下苦槠幼苗生长指标及各项光合生理指标的差异。结果表明,毛竹浸提液对苦槠幼苗苗高、地径和叶绿素相对含量的影响大体上呈现高浓度抑制低浓度促进的双重浓度效应。不同来源毛竹浸提液的化感效应不尽相同,土壤浸提液对苦槠幼苗生长和光合生理均呈现抑制作用,而茎叶、枯落物浸提液低浓度时为促进作用。毛竹潜在的化感作用,在其扩张过程中可能会干扰森林主要树种更新,从而对森林群落产生威胁。     

A multi-assay comparison of seed germination inhibition by Lonicera maackii and co-occurring native shrubs

Recent work suggests that germination inhibition via allelopathy may be an important component of some species’ invasion ecology. We conducted four germination assays to test the inhibitory potential of Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), a problematic invasive shrub. The subject species in the first assay, Festuca arundinacea, exhibited a significant delay in germination when treated with extract from ground honeysuckle foliage. In the second assay, two concentrations of L. maackii extract were created by soaking foliage. F. arundinacea germination was not significantly influenced by the treatments while germination in Impatiens wallerana was substantially decreased. The third assay compared the impact of foliar extract from honeysuckle, with the native shrubs Lindera benzoin and Asimina triloba using F. arundinaceae, I. wallerana, Coreopsis lanceolata and Poa pratensis as subject species. In this assay, I. wallerana was strongly inhibited by L. maackii foliage; however, none of the other species were significantly influenced by the treatments. In the fourth assay, fruit extracts from L. maackii and L. benzoin were applied to the same four subject species. L. maackii fruit extract had an inhibitory influence on seed germination of all subject species, and inhibition from L. benzoin was also noted. Across all assays, there was a mixed reaction to extract from L. maackii and co-occurring native species that was species-specific and dependent upon the extract source. Our findings provide support for the idea that L. maackii has allelopathic activity, but further work is needed to (i) understand how broad the impact may be across the wide variety of species that are found in its invasion range and (ii) substantiate that the allelopathic effect has relevance in field environments.     

Seed-to-seed potential allelopathic effects between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ligularia virgaurea</Emphasis> and native grass species of Tibetan alpine grasslands

Allelopathy is an important process in plant communities, but the role of seed allelopathy in natural ecosystems remains poorly understood. In the present study, we examined the potential allelopathic effects of Ligularia virgaurea (a dominant species in degraded Tibetan grasslands) seeds on the germination of four native grass species (Festuca sinensis, Agrostis gigantean, Bromus inermis, and Elymus nutans). The results showed that L. virgaurea seeds can have potential allelopathic effects on seed germination, mean time to germination and root growth rates of native grass species. We further demonstrate that these effects are driven by a water-soluble seed leachate. Species with smaller seeds were generally more sensitive than larger seeded species. The results suggest that seed-to-seed allelopathic potential may be an important mechanism driving the dominance of L. virgaurea in degraded alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Further studies are required to demonstrate effects of seed-to-seed potential allelopathy in a field setting.