Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation

Exotic plants usually exhibit problems for native species where they coexist. This study evaluated the effect of naturalized alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. on native plants in urban vegetation. A field trial was conducted to assess the effect of this species on the cover and diversit...

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Main Authors: Mahmoud O. Hassan, Howida Y. Mohamed, Mohammad K. Okla, Bushra Hafeez Kiani, Ahmed Amro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/21/3736
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author Mahmoud O. Hassan
Howida Y. Mohamed
Mohammad K. Okla
Bushra Hafeez Kiani
Ahmed Amro
author_facet Mahmoud O. Hassan
Howida Y. Mohamed
Mohammad K. Okla
Bushra Hafeez Kiani
Ahmed Amro
author_sort Mahmoud O. Hassan
collection DOAJ
description Exotic plants usually exhibit problems for native species where they coexist. This study evaluated the effect of naturalized alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. on native plants in urban vegetation. A field trial was conducted to assess the effect of this species on the cover and diversity of the native vegetation. The allelopathic potential of such species was examined. Sites comprising <i>C</i>. <i>echinatus</i> had a lower cover than some native species. Lower floristic diversity was observed at higher densities of this plant. The soil under this plant attained lower N, P, and K contents. This soil had no effect on the germination and growth of native species. It also comprised germinable seeds of some species which were absent from the standing vegetation. Exotic <i>C. echinatus</i> may exert negative effects on the native vegetation of the urban plant communities. A dense cover of this species may inhibit the germination of native species, leading to a reduction in their cover. Reduction in cover and diversity of native species may not be attributed to allelopathy. These results suggest that naturalized <i>C. echinatus</i> may be more competitive than the native ones, particularly at higher densities. Furthermore, it may represent a threat to the native plants in the urban vegetation.
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spelling doaj.art-3c66ab7b11d64d238185fa71a11d9d8c2023-11-10T15:10:21ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-10-011221373610.3390/plants12213736Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban VegetationMahmoud O. Hassan0Howida Y. Mohamed1Mohammad K. Okla2Bushra Hafeez Kiani3Ahmed Amro4Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef E-62511, EgyptDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef E-62511, EgyptBotany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USADepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, EgyptExotic plants usually exhibit problems for native species where they coexist. This study evaluated the effect of naturalized alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. on native plants in urban vegetation. A field trial was conducted to assess the effect of this species on the cover and diversity of the native vegetation. The allelopathic potential of such species was examined. Sites comprising <i>C</i>. <i>echinatus</i> had a lower cover than some native species. Lower floristic diversity was observed at higher densities of this plant. The soil under this plant attained lower N, P, and K contents. This soil had no effect on the germination and growth of native species. It also comprised germinable seeds of some species which were absent from the standing vegetation. Exotic <i>C. echinatus</i> may exert negative effects on the native vegetation of the urban plant communities. A dense cover of this species may inhibit the germination of native species, leading to a reduction in their cover. Reduction in cover and diversity of native species may not be attributed to allelopathy. These results suggest that naturalized <i>C. echinatus</i> may be more competitive than the native ones, particularly at higher densities. Furthermore, it may represent a threat to the native plants in the urban vegetation.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/21/3736naturalized alien speciesallelopathy<i>Cenchrus echinatus</i>weedsfloristic diversityurban ecology
spellingShingle Mahmoud O. Hassan
Howida Y. Mohamed
Mohammad K. Okla
Bushra Hafeez Kiani
Ahmed Amro
Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
Plants
naturalized alien species
allelopathy
<i>Cenchrus echinatus</i>
weeds
floristic diversity
urban ecology
title Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
title_full Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
title_fullStr Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
title_full_unstemmed Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
title_short Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien <i>Cenchrus echinatus</i> L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
title_sort dense cover but not allelopathic potential of naturalized alien i cenchrus echinatus i l threatens the native species in urban vegetation
topic naturalized alien species
allelopathy
<i>Cenchrus echinatus</i>
weeds
floristic diversity
urban ecology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/21/3736
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