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The importance of analytical techniques in allelopathy studies with the reported allelochemical catechin as an example

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Abstract

Allelopathy can be challenging to demonstrate. Developing rigorous analytical techniques to detect and quantify compound(s) of interest from soil or liquid media lays the foundation for designing ecologically relevant experiments that incorporate candidate allelochemicals. In this paper, fundamental components of analytical techniques, including method development, validation, and appropriate controls are discussed. Research on the candidate allelochemical from spotted knapweed, catechin, is used as an example to demonstrate the importance of including these components both during data collection and in subsequent publications. This example shows how contrasting results between research groups can be difficult to interpret when information on controls and method validation are not included in publications. Recent research suggests that catechin is not likely driving spotted knapweed’s invasion, and thus future research on this system should focus on alternate candidate toxins from spotted knapweed. By employing appropriate analytical techniques, such as those outlined here, a strong foundation can be laid for ecologically oriented experiments that examine the role of allelochemicals in structuring communities.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript was initially invited to be part of a special issue resulting from the conference ‘Biology, Ecology, and Management of World’s Worst Plant Invasive Species’ organized by the Center for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems at the University of Delhi, India held in December 2006. We are indebted to C. Alba-Lynn, D. Cariveau, R. McGinn, A. Norton, S. Rauth, and P. Westra for valuable discussions on this topic and J. Gurevitch, Inderjit, S. Maldonado, J. Weidenhamer, L. Wolfe, and three anonymous reviewers for critical comments that improved earlier versions of this manuscript. Funding for this research was provided by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, an EPA STAR fellowship FP-91676001-0, NSF DEB 0515743, NSF DDIG 0607974, and USDA NRI 2002-35320-12137.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Amy C. Blair & Ruth A. Hufbauer

  2. Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Amy C. Blair, Scott J. Nissen, Galen R. Brunk & Ruth A. Hufbauer

  3. Environmentals LLC, 6342 Perry City Rd., Trumansburg, NY, 14886, USA

    Leslie A. Weston

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  1. Amy C. Blair
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  2. Leslie A. Weston
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  3. Scott J. Nissen
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  4. Galen R. Brunk
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  5. Ruth A. Hufbauer
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Correspondence to Amy C. Blair.

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Blair, A.C., Weston, L.A., Nissen, S.J. et al. The importance of analytical techniques in allelopathy studies with the reported allelochemical catechin as an example. Biol Invasions 11, 325–332 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9250-1

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