Invasive plants affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance which results in reduced species richness and performance of native plants
Over 80 % of all terrestrial plants have roots colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) which aid nutrient acquisition and growth, as well as protecting plants against abiotic stresses. Following invasion by invasive plants which are not associated, or weakly associated with AMF, microbiota levels beneath invaded stands can become reduced. Three invasive plants species with varying levels of AMF colonisation were evaluated for their impact on native plants. Fallopia japonica (Polygonaceae; EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is a non-mycorrhizal associated species whereas both Rudbeckia laciniata (Asteraceae) and Solidago gigantea (Asteraceae; EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) are known to form AMF associations. In the present study, soil and root samples were collected from beneath stands of each invasive species and adjacent native vegetation in Poland. For each site, AMF colonisation and species richness was determined. In addition, the performance (shoot biomass, chlorophyll fluorescence and element concentration in shoots) of two native AMF dependent species (Trifolium repens (Fabaeae) and Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae)) grown in soil taken from beneath each invasive species and from beneath native species was assessed. F. japonica had the strongest negative effect on AMF abundance and species richness. Even though R. laciniata and S. gigantea are AMF dependent, a reduced species abundance was observed indicating that these species may associate with a low number of AMF species in the introduced range. P. lanceolata showed a reduced shoot and photosynthetic performance on soil taken from beneath F. japonica and S. gigantea. Generally, T. repens did not show any significant difference in performance between invaded and uninvaded soils, indicating the species might also be utilising microbiota not measured during the experiment.
Sources
Zubek S, Majewska M, Blaszkowski J, Stefanowicz AM, Nobis M, Kapusta P (2016) Invasive plants affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance and species richness as well as the performance of native plants grown in invaded soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils 52, 841-852.