ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Drought Enhanced the Allelopathy of Goldenrod
on the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth
Performance of Lettuce
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Institute of Environment and Ecology & School of the Environment and Safety Engineering,
Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, P. R. China
Submission date: 2020-03-18
Final revision date: 2020-05-20
Acceptance date: 2020-05-21
Online publication date: 2020-08-23
Publication date: 2020-10-05
Corresponding author
Congyan Wang
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, 212013, Zhenjiang, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(1):423-432
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ABSTRACT
Invasive alien species (IAS) can distinctly inhibit seed germination and seedling growth
performance (SGeSGrP) of indigenous species via the allelopathy. The progressively increased drought
stress can potentially affect the allelopathy of IAS. Thus, it is significant to illustrate the allelopathy of
IAS on SGeSGrP of indigenous species under drought stress to obtain a deeper elucidation for the main
driving mechanism attributed to the successful invasion. This study attempts to identify the allelopathy
of IAS Solidago canadensis L. (goldenrod; using leaf extracts) on SGeSGrP of the indigenous species
Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) under drought stress [mimicked by Polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG 6000)].
Goldenrod leaf extracts (low concentration) obviously reduced seed germination performance of lettuce
but goldenrod leaf extracts (high concentration) notably reduced seedling growth performance of
lettuce. Goldenrod leaf extracts (low concentration) also interestingly awarded an optimistic effect on
the competitive ability for sunlight acquisition as well as water and inorganic salt acquisition, plant
growing ability, and plant water content of lettuce. PEG 6000 dramatically inhibited the competitive
ability for sunlight acquisition as well as water and inorganic salt acquisition of lettuce. PEG 6000
also noticeably enhanced the allelopathy of goldenrod leaf extracts on the germination speed and
vitality, competitive ability for sunlight acquisition as well as water and inorganic salt acquisition, leaf
photosynthetic area, and plant growing ability of lettuce. Thus, drought stress may be advantageous to
the advance of goldenrod invasion process mainly via the oppressed SGeSGrP of indigenous species
mediated by the enhanced allelopathy.