1State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
College of Life Sciences, Ludong University, Yantai-264025, China
*Correspondence author, E. Mail: lsspsl@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Online published on 10 April, 2012.
Laboratory bioassays and pot experiments were done to evaluate the allelopathic effects of 6-native dominant trees [Pinus massoniana Lamb., Schima superba Gardn. et Champ., Castanopsis chinensis Hance, Castanopsis fissa (Champ. ex Bench.) Rehd. et Wils., Cryptocarya chinensis (Hance) Hemsl. and Cryptocarya concinna Hance] of 3-forests on Mikania micrantha H.B.K. in lower subtropical China. In laboratory bioassays, the litter leachates of all 6-dominant trees reduced the root length of M. micrantha seedlings. Likewise in pot experiments also, the seedling growth of M. micrantha was inhibited significantly when planted with S. superba, C. chinensis, C. fissa, or Cryptocarya chinensis, but the total biomass was not affected by Cryptocarya concinna. Compared to Cryptocarya concinna treatment, the stem mass ratio (SMR) of M. micrantha decreased significantly with S. superba, C. chinensis, C. fissa and Cryptocarya chinensis treatments. This decrease in aboveground biomass results in less space occupied by M. micrantha and will consequently reduce the plant's further expansion. Our results support the assumption that the dominant trees exerted different inhibitory effects on the growth of M. micrantha, implying that the plant-plant interactions may play an important role in determining the habitat invasion resistance.
Allelopathy, Castanopsis chinensis, Castanopsis fissa, Cryptocarya chinensis, Cryptocarya concinna, dominant trees, invasion resistance, invasive plants, Mikania micrantha, Pinus massoniana, Schima superba, seedling growth
