Competition induces negative conspecific allelopathic effects on seedling recruitment.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Some plant species suppress competitors through release of chemical compounds into the environment. As the production of allelochemicals may be costly, it would be beneficial if their production would only be induced when plants experience competition. We tested whether two plant species that frequently co-occur show evidence for induced allelopathy in response to intra- and interspecific competition.

Methods

We used the annual forb Crepidiastrum sonchifolium and the perennial forb Achyranthes bidentata, which are native to China and predominantly occur in ruderal communities, as focal species. We first grew the species without competition, with intraspecific competition and in competition with each other. We chemically analysed aqueous extracts made from

SUBMITTER: Yuan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9758299 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature