RT Journal Article
T1 Allelopathic potentials of exotic invasive and native treesover coexisting understory species: the soil as modulator
A1 Medina-Villar, Silvia
A1 Alonso, Álvaro
A1 Castro Díez, Pilar
A1 Pérez Corona, Esther
AB Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia are two aggressive exotic tree species invading riparian ecosystems in Central Spain. We explored their allelopathic potentials as a possible mechanism explaining their success in these ecosystems. Specifically, we aimed (1) to compare the phytotoxic effects of the exotic and native (Fraxinus angustifolia and Populus alba) trees on the fitness of several understory plants coexisting in riparian ecosystems, and (2) to assess the capacity of the riparian soil to modulate the phytotoxic effects. In laboratory bioassays, aqueous leaf litter extracts from the donor tree species at fieldrealistic concentrations were tested on different fitness indicators of 13 understory target species, using germination paper and soil as substrates in petri dishes. Using germination paper, we found speciesspecific effects between donor and target species, but the phytotoxicity of the exotic trees as a group was not greater than that of the natives. Nevertheless, the exotic R. pseudoacacia was the most effective donor species reducing the radicle growth of the target species. Over riparian soil substrate, the aqueous leaf litter extracts did not produce any phytotoxic effect on the target species, except in one case. Altogether, our results highlight the importance of using both a native control when assessing the phytotoxicity of nonnative plants and also the natural soil in the modulation of phytotoxic effects. Ignoring both factors in laboratory bioassays would have led to the overestimation of the phytotoxicity of the exotic species as a mechanism contributing to their invasion success.
PB Springer Verlag
SN 1385-0237, ESSN: 1573-5052
YR 2017
FD 2017-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/18141
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/18141
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)
NO Comunidad de Madrid
NO Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha
NO Universidad de Alcalá and Ayuda Programa Grupos UCM-Banco Santander
DS Docta Complutense
RD 4 abr 2025