Exploring the role of soil types on defense and fitness traits of silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), a worldwide invasive species through a field survey in the native range.

ABSTRACT: Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) is a highly successful invasive weed that has caused agricultural losses both in its home and invaded ranges. Surveying 50 sub-populations over 36,000 km² in its native range in South Texas, we investigated the interactions among soil type, population size, plant height, herbivory, and plant defenses in its home range with the expectation that populations growing in the plant's preferred sandier soils would host larger colonies of healthier and better defended plants. At each sampling location, on randomly selected plants, we measured height, insect herbivore damage, and presence, and density of internode spines. Soil type was determined using the NRCS Web Soil Survey and primarily grouped into sand, clay, or urban. Our resul

SUBMITTER: Kasper S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8525926 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature