No allelopathic effect of the invader Acacia dealbata on the potential infectiv...

• Author(s): Lorenzo, Paula ; Rodríguez-Echeverría, Susana ; Freitas, H.
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/25662
• Origin: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
• Subject(s): Allelochemical compounds; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); Natural leachates; Plant invasion; Plantago lanceolata
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The invasion success of the leguminous tree Acacia dealbata Link has been related to the release of novel chemical compounds that affect both native plant performance and native soil bacterial communities. However, the allelopathic effect of A. dealbata on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has not been explored. We used natural leachates from invasive A. dealbata and native soils to assess the bioactivity of these chemicals on AMF colonization of Plantago lanceolata in native soils. The highly mycorrhizal P. lanceolata was used as a model-test species to estimate the infectivity of AM fungi. Acacia leachates did not affect mycorrhizal colonization in any of the native soils studied. Either the leachates released by A. dealbata do not have an antifungal effect or the analyzed soils contained AMF species resistant to those allelochemicals. Our results appeal for further research to elucidate the role of native AMF in the invasion process of A. dealbata. This work was supported by the project MUTUALNET (PTDC/BIA BEC/103507/2008), from the European Union and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and by post-doctoral research grant from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación (Programa Nacional de Movilidad de Recursos Humanos del Plan Nacional de I-Dþi 2008e2011, Ref. EX2010-1169) awarded to Paula Lorenzo.