ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Root Exudates of Wedelia trilobata Suppress
Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi and Increase
Its Invasion
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1
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering,
Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, PR China
2
Institute of Environment and Ecology, Academy of Environmental Health and Ecological Security,
Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
3
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment,
Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
Submission date: 2023-05-06
Final revision date: 2023-06-01
Acceptance date: 2023-06-16
Online publication date: 2023-07-31
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Corresponding author
Jianfan Sun
Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering,
Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, PR China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(5):4865-4875
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ABSTRACT
Invasive species have competitive advantages over neighboring native species and decrease
the biodiversity of the local community. The novel weapon hypothesis suggests that invasive plants
affect local plants and suppress soil-borne pathogens by exuding allelochemicals to facilitate invasion.
Therefore, the following study was designed by focusing on the extracts derived from certain parts of
plants, and the impact of the collected root exudates of invasive plants on soil-borne pathogens has been
documented, but there is still a need to identify its mechanisms. We conducted several experiments
to test whether the alien invasive plant species Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc. can suppress soil-borne
pathogens through its root exudates. We also attempted to explain the inhibition mechanism of the root
exudates on soil-borne pathogens. The results showed that the root exudates of W. trilobata significantly
inhibited the growth and activities of soil-borne pathogens under sterile petri dish and sand cultures.
Specifically, root exudates decreased the conidial germination, mycotoxin production, and hydrolytic
enzyme (pectinase, cellulase, and amylase) activities of soil-borne pathogens in liquid culture, indicating
the inhibition mechanism of root exudates of W. trilobata on soil-borne pathogens. Our results provided
direct evidence that the root exudates of W. trilobata help it to spread by suppressing resident pathogens
and promoting its invasion.