Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Allelopathic potential of leaf litter extracts of the invasive Chromolaena odorata on its neighboring plants

Author(s):

Baoqing Hu ^{1, 2†}*, Gang Hu ^{1, 3†}, Zhonghua Zhang ^{1, 3}

Recieved Date: 2013-06-29, Accepted Date: 2013-09-20

Abstract:

One of the most invasive species known to have expanded into southern China is Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Robinson, which is reducing populations of native species and jeopardizing biodiversity in the region. To investigate the potential role of allelopathy in plant interference and in the successful invasion of C. odorata, leaf litter and aqueous extracts of C. odorata were prepared and used as treatment solutions to assess their effects on seed germination and growth of four target plant species, Pueraria phaseoloides, Urena lobata, Vitex negundo and Caryopteris incana, in Petri dish bioassay and pot culture. Results from Petri dish bioassay showed that the relatively high concentration of leaf litter extracts of C. odorata had significant inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth of the four target plant species. This inhibitory effect increased with increasing concentration of the extract. Results from pot culture indicated that plant biomasses of U. lobata and C. incana were inhibited by large amounts of leaf litter of C. odorata in the absence of activated carbon, but no change was observed in the presence of activated carbon. These results suggest that C. odorata can suppress performance of its neighboring plants by releasing allelochemicals into the soil, likely via leaf litter decomposition, thus creating a favorable environment for itself for invasion and expansion.

Keywords:

Allelopathy, aqueous extracts, Chromolaena odorata, invasive species, leaf litter, neighboring plant

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 2561-2566

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