Allelopathy of Lantana camara as an Invasive Plant

Abstract

Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is native to tropical America and has been introduced into many other countries as an ornamental and hedge plant. The species has been spreading quickly and has naturalized in more than 60 countries as an invasive noxious weed. It is considered to be one of the world’s 100 worst alien species. L. camara often forms dense monospecies stands through the interruption of the regeneration process of indigenous plant species. Allelopathy of L. camara has been reported to play a crucial role in its invasiveness. The extracts, essential oil, leachates, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara suppressed the germination and growth of other plant species. Several allelochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, and a flavonoid, were identified in the extracts, essential oil, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara. The evidence also suggests that some of those allelochemicals in L. camara are probably released into the rhizosphere soil under the canopy and neighboring environments during the decomposition process of the residues and as leachates and volatile compounds from living plant parts of L. camara. The released allelochemicals may suppress the regeneration process of indigenous plant species by decreasing their germination and seedling growth and increasing their mortality. Therefore, the allelopathic property of L. camara may support its invasive potential and formation of dense monospecies stands.

Allelopathy of Knotweeds as Invasive Plants

“…Perennial plants are able to release allelochemicals into the rhizosphere soil over several years through the decomposition process of plant parts including fallen leaves, and the exudation from their rhizomes and roots, and those allelochemicals may be able to accumulate in the soil [ 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ]. The invasion of perennial herbaceous species, knotweed significantly reduced the plant diversity and abundance of native herbs, shrubs, and juvenile trees in the introduced range [ 87 , 88 ].…”

Microcosm Study on Allelopathic Effects of Leaf Litter Leachates and Purified Condensed Tannins from Kandelia obovata on Germination and Growth of Aegiceras corniculatum

“…Indeed, bioactive tannins as allelochemicals extracted from Delonix regia dramatically inhibited the growth of Lactuca sativa and Brassica chinensis [25]. The reasons why the allelochemicals, such as CTs, possessed strong allelopathic effects were mainly because: (1) when seeds were kept in a germination state, allelochemicals seemed to downregulate the activities of key enzymes and substrates, resulting in seed deterioration [13]; (2) with increasing concentrations of the allelochemicals, the reactive oxygen species (ROS), e.g., malondialdehyde (MDA) and H 2 O 2 , burst, contributing to membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidase system (e.g., superoxide dismutase activity, SOD) inhibition when the allelochemicals reached a critical threshold [13,37,38]; and (3) when a large number of vegetable tannins accumulated in rhizosphere soils, they chelated a variety of trace metals in soils, thereby forming chelate complexes to reduce the absorption of essential mineral elements for plant growth, development, and metabolism [39].…”

Biochar Rescues Native Trees in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Mauritius

“…Recent studies support an alternative theory that many exotic species may benefit from ecological advantages of "novel chemistry" via allelopathy outside their native range [1,2]. Allelochemical interference can contribute to the dominance of an invader in its introduced habitat [3]; allelopathy is estimated to be present in more than half of invasive plants globally [4], including many of the most notorious cases [1], such as Imperata cylindrica, Lantana camara, and Chromolaena odorata, that are copious producers of allelochemicals having strong inhibitory effects on native plant species [5][6][7]. Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae) is likewise a highly invasive species that forms dense monotypic stands [8] and can suppress native vegetation by releasing allelochemicals into the soil [9][10][11].…”