Project Detail

Novel Weapons Hypothesis revisited: phytotoxicity of Heracleum mantegazzianium in phylogenetic and invasion dynamics context

Name:	Novel Weapons Hypothesis revisited: phytotoxicity of Heracleum mantegazzianium in phylogenetic and invasion dynamics context
Researchers:	Dostál Petr (researcher)
Provider:	GA ČR
Number:	P504/10/0132
Realization from:	2010
Realization to:	2013
Summary:	Invasion success of some exotics was shown to be due production of unique phytotoxic compounds that are harmful to plants from new range but not to plants from original one. Two questions of this mechanism remain however unanswered. First, what determines the chemical uniqueness of allelochemicals in new range, whether origin per se or rather phylogenetic isolation of colonizing species. And second, how long the advantage of such novelty persists in new range. In this project I want to study both questions by surveying allelopathy of exotic umbellifer Heracleum mantegazzianum. I want to compare composition and effects of root exudates of H. mantegazzianum and variably related native umbellifers. I will survey whether H. mantegazzianum has allelochemicals not present even in its close native relatives. Next I want to explore populations of native grass Agrostis capillaris from sites that differ in invasion history. I hypothesize that populations of A. capillaris experiencing longer exotic’s presence are more adapted to its phytotoxic effects than populations invaded only recently.