Journal of Chemical Ecology (2016) 42, 85-94

Zhi-Cong Dai, Wei Fu, Shan-Shan Qi, De-Li Zhai, Si-Chong Chen, Ling-Yun Wan, Ping Huang and Dao-Lin Du (2016)
Different responses of an invasive clonal plant Wedelia trilobata and its native congener to gibberellin: Implications for biological invasion
Journal of Chemical Ecology 42 (2), 85-94
Abstract: The invasive clonal plant Wedelia trilobata contains higher levels of ent-kaurane diterpenes, which are precursors of gibberellins (GAs), and higher rates of clonal growth than its native congener W. chinensis in invaded habitats. We hypothesized that the higher levels of endogenous GAs facilitate greater ramet growth in W. trilobata compared with W. chinensis. We quantified endogenous levels of GA₁₊₃ in the two species and compared their growth responses to the changes of endogenous and exogenous GA₃ by using short-term and long-term hydroponics experiments. After a period of homogeneous cultivation, levels of endogenous GA₁₊₃ were higher in W. trilobata than in W. chinensis. The reduction of endogenous GAs repressed the emergence of adventitious roots and the growth of W. trilobata in the initial cultivation stage, and inhibited its shoot elongation and biomass. Levels of endogenous GA₁₊₃ were positively correlated with the length of shoots and adventitious roots of W. trilobata. Adventitious roots of W. trilobata also emerged earlier and grew faster when treated with exogenous GA₃. In contrast, exogenous GA₃ treatment inhibited the length of adventitious roots in W. chinensis, and levels of endogenous GA₁₊₃ did not correlate with shoot or adventitious root length. Our study suggests that GAs accelerate the rapid clonal growth of W. trilobata, more than that of its native congener W. chinensis, illustrating the relationship between plant hormones and the clonal growth of invasive plants. These findings are important for understanding the mechanisms associated with the invasiveness of clonal plants and their potential management.
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Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sphagneticola trilobata (weed)