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AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA SPECIES INVASION ON BIODIVERSITY CAUSED BY POTENTIAL ALLELOPATHY

2014; Agroprint Timisoara; Volume: 46; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

2066-1843

C. Bostan, G. F. Borlea, Corina Mihoc, Mihaela Selesan,

Insect Pest Control Strategies

This paper aims to highlight the direct and indirect allelopathic influences showed by species Ailanthus altissima, through morphological and biological investigations. An important factor in the success of Ailanthus species invasion is the release of allelopathic compounds that influence negatively the vegetation in habitats where it installs. Recent studies show that interactions between invasive species and native species based on allelopathy may be one of the mechanisms underlying the remarkable success of some of the most aggressive invasive plants. Ailanthus contains toxic allelopathic compounds to many woody and herbaceous plants, toxic compound called ailantona, identified and classified as the most effective phytotoxic component. Several studies have shown that extracts of Ailanthus inhibit germination and growth of several species of angiosperm and gymnosperm plants, in biotests and greenhouse experiments. Our studies included a laboratory experience in which we studied the germination of seeds treated with watery extracts obtained from Ailanthus species and behaviour of species under the influence of the same extracts treated containing allelopathic compounds. Based on research conducted in the laboratory, by studying the degree of externalization of the main morphological features, it was revealed that seed germination of Sinapis alba and Brassica napus treated extracts was 0%, compared with the control Sinapis alba 83% and Brassica napus 96,66%. Treated seeds were inhibited regardless of the concentration of watery extracts they have been treated with (Variant 1 - Standard substances; Variant 2 - obtained by dilution 1:1; Variant 3 - obtained by dilution 1:2.). The average length of hypocotyl and Brassica napus roots for the control was 3.36 cm and respectively 3.25 cm, and the hypocotyl of Sinapis alba root was 2.95 cm and 3.2 cm. Experiments carried out demonstrate that the allelopathtic potential of the species is very powerful and can influence negatively the neighbouring species. Given the current climate, the species Ailanthus altissima is favoured over native species. This fact combined with the allelopathtic effects demonstrated also by experiments carried out in the current paper may lead to future expansion of this species with major impacts on biodiversity.