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Quantifying the effects of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) allelopathy on native plant growth.
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Amatangelo, Kathryn
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2024-05-10
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Graziano thesis 2024.pdf
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Biological invasions are one of the leading causes of decreasing biodiversity around the world.
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an invasive perennial herb native to east Asia that has
become increasingly abundant in New York state. One way that invasive plants such as Japanese
knotweed interfere with native communities is through the release of allelochemicals, which are
secondary compounds that inhibit the growth of competitors. While knotweed is known to
produce several potentially allelopathic compounds, their isolated effects on native plant growth
are understudied. I performed a manipulative growth experiment treating three native species
with knotweed leachate or tap water and potting them in control soil or knotweed soil collected
from beneath a local knotweed population. Native species were grown for eight weeks, and their
growth among treatments compared. I hypothesized that the growth of natives receiving
knotweed leachate and natives potted in knotweed soil would be limited by allelochemicals.
Contrary to my hypothesis, there were no significant differences between leachate and control
plants. When significant results were found, plants potted in knotweed soil grew better than
control plants. This may be due to increased nutrient availability or changes in soil biota caused
by knotweed. My results suggest that Japanese knotweed allelopathy plays a minimal role in the
species’ success and its allelochemicals are not a major concern for restoring native
communities.
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