Changes in gametophyte physiology of Pteris multifida induced by the leaf leachate treatment of the invasive Bidens pilosa.
In recent years, the response of fern gametophytes to environment has raised much attention. However, studies on the influence of plant invasion to fern gametophytes are scarce. Allelopathy plays an important role in biological invasion. Hence, it is necessary to study the allelopathic effects of invasive plants on fern gametophytes and elucidate the mechanisms by which invasive plants cause phytotoxicity. As one of the main invasive plants in China, Bidens pilosa exhibits allelopathic effects on spermatophyte growth. Field investigation shows that many ferns are threatened by the invasion of B. pilosa. The distribution of Pteris multifida overlaps with that of B. pilosa in China. To examine the potential involvement of allelopathic mechanisms of B. pilosa leaves, changes in the physiology in P. multifida gametophytes are analyzed. We found that cell membrane and antioxidant enzyme activities as well as photosynthesis pigment contents of the gametophytes were affected by B. pilosa leachates. Gametophytes of P. multifida exposed to B. pilosa had increased damages to cell membranes, expressed in thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) concentrations, malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (membrane permeability), and degree of injury. Enzyme activities, assessed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) enhanced with the increase in leachate concentration after 2-day exposure. Meanwhile, lower chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), carotenoid (Car), and the total chlorophyll were measured as leachate concentrations increased. At day 10, leaf leachates of B. pilosa exhibited the greatest inhibition. These results suggest that the observed inhibitory or stimulatory effects on the physiology studied can have an adverse effect on P. multifida and that allelopathic interference seems to have involved in this process.
Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.|College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.|Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA.
Kai-Mei
KM
Zhang
Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.|College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.|College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
Yu
Y
Shen
Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China. jwu4@njfu.edu.cn.|College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China. jwu4@njfu.edu.cn.
Yan-Ming
YM
Fang
Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.|College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.
Ying
Y
Liu
D064089:Allelopathy / Q000502:physiology; D031176:Bidens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D058865:Introduced Species; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D032495:Pteris / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D010675:Pheromones; D002734:Chlorophyll; C085815:chlorophyll a'; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C037184:chlorophyll b; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
Bidens pilosa; Gametophyte; Pteris multifida; allelopathy