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Allelopathic Potential of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) on Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

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Abstract

This study investigated allelopathy and its chemical basis in nine switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) accessions. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were used as test species. Undiluted aqueous extracts (5 g plant tissue in 50 ml water) from the shoots and roots of most of the switchgrass accessions inhibited the germination and growth of the test species. However, the allelopathic effect of switchgrass declined when extracts were diluted 5- or 50-fold. Seedling growth was more sensitive than seed germination as an indicator of allelopathic effect. Allelopathic effect was related to switchgrass ecotype but not related to ploidy level. Upland accessions displayed stronger allelopathic potential than lowland accessions. The aqueous extract from one switchgrass accession was separated into phenols, organic acids, neutral chemicals, and alkaloids, and then these fractions were bioassayed to test for allelopathic potential. Alkaloids had the strongest allelopathic effect among the four chemical fractions. In summary, the results indicated that switchgrass has allelopathic potential; however, there is not enough evidence to conclude that allelopathic advantage is the main factor that has contributed to the successful establishment of switchgrass on China’s Loess Plateau.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this research was provided by CAS West Action: Experimental and Demonstration Study on Soil Conservation and Sustainable Ecosystem Rehabilitation on the Loess Plateau (KZCX2-XB2-05), the State Science and Technology Support Project (2006BAD09B08), and the State Key Science and Technology Support Project (2006BCA01A07). The authors would like to thank Dr. Jeff Gale of Northwest A&F University for his help in editing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Ministry of Water Resources and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, People’s Republic of China

    Junfeng Shui, Yu An & Yongqing Ma

  2. Weed Science Center, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-Machi, Utsunomiya, 321-8505, Japan

    Nobumasa Ichizen

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  1. Junfeng Shui
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  2. Yu An
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  3. Yongqing Ma
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  4. Nobumasa Ichizen
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Correspondence to Yongqing Ma.

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Shui, J., An, Y., Ma, Y. et al. Allelopathic Potential of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) on Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Environmental Management 46, 590–598 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9454-x

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