1Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra PO BOX 3046, 3001-401-Coimbra, Portugal
2Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo
3Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
*Correspondence author: E. Mail: luis@uvigo.es
Online published on 10 April, 2012.
We have developed new ‘Sloped Box’ technique to investigate the role of allelopathy in spread of A. dealbata under competitive interactions. The germination of Plantago lanceolata L. and Trifolium pratense L. was accelerated in seeds near to Acacia dealbata Link. In 3 out of 4-test species, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was increased with time, in plants grown around A. dealbata and plants in first part of underside of the slope. Interestingly, the above ground biomass of P. lanceolata and Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H.Wigg were lowest in plants closer to A. dealbata, followed by the plants grown on the first part of lower side of slope and the highest in plants on the top and bottom of slope. We found that plants around the invasive species were more affected than those on the edges of pots. We concluded that the invasive A. dealbata could affect the autochthonous plant species by naturally releasing the organic compounds that act as allelochemicals, although the interaction of other factors cannot be overlooked. Its effect is focussed on plants located near the individual donors. This new method may be adequate to study allelopathy and help in understanding the allelopathic process and competitive mechanisms.
Acacia dealbata, competitive interactions, invasive species, native species, Plantago lanceolata, physiological parameters, Sloped Box technique, Trifolium pratense
