Comparing the allelopathic potential of exotic and native plant species on understory plants:are exotic plants better armed?
- Catalán, Pablo
- Vázquez de Aldana, Beatriz R.
- Heras Puñal, Paloma de las
- Fernández Seral, Alberto
- Pérez Corona, M. Esther
ISSN: 1138-3399, 1989-2128
Year of publication: 2013
Issue: 35
Pages: 65-74
Type: Article
More publications in: Anales de biología
Abstract
Allelopathy is thought to be a key mechanism in biological invasions. Our study aimed to assess the effects of aqueous extracts of leaves from three different exotic tree species common in Spanish riparian forests on the germination of six herbaceous species common in the understory of these ecosystems. We compared the effects of exotic species with those of a native tree species, the white poplar. Our results showed that germination speed and radicle growth of target species were the variables more sensitive to extracts, while percent germination was barely affected. Mostly, extracts had a negative effect on germination speed and radicle growth of all species, except Chenopodium album. White poplar extracts caused similar or even more negative effects than those of the exotic species. Our results show that allelopathy a complex phenomenon, in which native species are also involved