Abstract

Laboratory bioassays were used to test for the phytotoxicity of volatile compounds, fresh plant material as a seed bed, and water extracts from bracken [Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn] pinnules to germination and seedling growth of aspen (Populus tremula L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Fronds were sampled from two bracken populations, one in the south and one in the north of Sweden. All three bioassays showed inhibitory effects, and these varied seasonally with the most inhibitory effects occurring in May, June, and September. The peak of inhibition in May and June coincides with the start of the growing season when bracken still is immature and vulnerable to interference from other species, The increase in inhibitory effects in September appears to be due to transformation of natural products or an accumulation of inhibitory compounds that are released during decomposition following frond death. Addition of activated carbon did not remove the inhibitory effects.

Keywords

PTERIDIUM AQUILINUM; ALLELOPATHY; PHYTOTOXICITY; VOLATILE COMPOUNDS; WATER EXTRACTS; REGENERATION FAILURE; ACTIVATED CARBON; PINUS SYLVESTRIS; POPULUS TREMULA

Published in

Journal of Chemical Ecology
1994, Volume: 20, number: 12, pages: 3163-3172
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Dolling, Ann

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Zackrisson, Olle

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nilsson Hegethorn, Marie-Charlotte

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033718

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/115291