The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species
In contrast to plant-animal interactions, the conceptual framework regarding the impact of secondary metabolites in mediating plant-plant interference is currently less well defined. Here, we address hypotheses about the role of chemically-mediated plant-plant interference (i.e. allelopathy) as a dr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2016.00594/full |
| _version_ | 1811339766708305920 |
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| author | Catherine eFERNANDEZ Yogan eMONNIER Yogan eMONNIER Mathieu eSANTONJA Christiane eGALLET Leslie A. WESTON Bernard ePREVOSTO Amelie eSAUNIER Virginie eBALDY Anne eBOUSQUET-MELOU |
| author_facet | Catherine eFERNANDEZ Yogan eMONNIER Yogan eMONNIER Mathieu eSANTONJA Christiane eGALLET Leslie A. WESTON Bernard ePREVOSTO Amelie eSAUNIER Virginie eBALDY Anne eBOUSQUET-MELOU |
| author_sort | Catherine eFERNANDEZ |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In contrast to plant-animal interactions, the conceptual framework regarding the impact of secondary metabolites in mediating plant-plant interference is currently less well defined. Here, we address hypotheses about the role of chemically-mediated plant-plant interference (i.e. allelopathy) as a driver of Mediterranean forest dynamics. Growth and defense abilities of a pioneer (Pinus halepensis) and a late-successional (Quercus pubescens) Mediterranean forest species were evaluated under three different plant interference conditions: i) allelopathy simulated by application of aqueous needle extracts of Pinus, ii) resource competition created by the physical presence of a neighboring species (Pinus or Quercus), and iii) a combination of both allelopathy and competition. After 24 months of experimentation in simulated field conditions, Quercus was more affected by plant interference treatments than was Pinus, and a hierarchical response to biotic interference (allelopathy < competition < allelopathy + competition) was observed in terms of relative impact on growth and plant defense. Both species modulated their respective metabolic profiles according to plant interference treatment and thus their inherent chemical defense status, resulting in a physiological trade-off between plant growth and production of defense metabolites. For Quercus, an increase in secondary metabolite production and a decrease in plant growth were observed in all treatments. In contrast, this trade-off in Pinus was only observed in competition and allelopathy + competition treatments. Although Pinus and Quercus expressed differential responses when subjected to a single interference condition, either allelopathy or competition, species responses were similar or positively correlated when strong interference conditions (allelopathy + competition) were imposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:31:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-726e5a2b0e424db49d84b4e4502226b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:31:31Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-726e5a2b0e424db49d84b4e4502226b92022-12-22T02:35:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2016-05-01710.3389/fpls.2016.00594186358The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree speciesCatherine eFERNANDEZ0Yogan eMONNIER1Yogan eMONNIER2Mathieu eSANTONJA3Christiane eGALLET4Leslie A. WESTON5Bernard ePREVOSTO6Amelie eSAUNIER7Virginie eBALDY8Anne eBOUSQUET-MELOU9Aix Marseille UniversitéAix Marseille UniversitéINRAAix Marseille UniversitéUniversité de SavoieCharles Sturt UniversityIRSTEAAix Marseille UniversitéAix Marseille UniversitéAix Marseille UniversitéIn contrast to plant-animal interactions, the conceptual framework regarding the impact of secondary metabolites in mediating plant-plant interference is currently less well defined. Here, we address hypotheses about the role of chemically-mediated plant-plant interference (i.e. allelopathy) as a driver of Mediterranean forest dynamics. Growth and defense abilities of a pioneer (Pinus halepensis) and a late-successional (Quercus pubescens) Mediterranean forest species were evaluated under three different plant interference conditions: i) allelopathy simulated by application of aqueous needle extracts of Pinus, ii) resource competition created by the physical presence of a neighboring species (Pinus or Quercus), and iii) a combination of both allelopathy and competition. After 24 months of experimentation in simulated field conditions, Quercus was more affected by plant interference treatments than was Pinus, and a hierarchical response to biotic interference (allelopathy < competition < allelopathy + competition) was observed in terms of relative impact on growth and plant defense. Both species modulated their respective metabolic profiles according to plant interference treatment and thus their inherent chemical defense status, resulting in a physiological trade-off between plant growth and production of defense metabolites. For Quercus, an increase in secondary metabolite production and a decrease in plant growth were observed in all treatments. In contrast, this trade-off in Pinus was only observed in competition and allelopathy + competition treatments. Although Pinus and Quercus expressed differential responses when subjected to a single interference condition, either allelopathy or competition, species responses were similar or positively correlated when strong interference conditions (allelopathy + competition) were imposed.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2016.00594/fullcompetitionAllelopathysecondary metabolismPinus halepensisQuercus pubescensPhenotypic response |
| spellingShingle | Catherine eFERNANDEZ Yogan eMONNIER Yogan eMONNIER Mathieu eSANTONJA Christiane eGALLET Leslie A. WESTON Bernard ePREVOSTO Amelie eSAUNIER Virginie eBALDY Anne eBOUSQUET-MELOU The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species Frontiers in Plant Science competition Allelopathy secondary metabolism Pinus halepensis Quercus pubescens Phenotypic response |
| title | The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species |
| title_full | The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species |
| title_fullStr | The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species |
| title_short | The impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade-off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species |
| title_sort | impact of competition and allelopathy on the trade off between plant defense and growth in two contrasting tree species |
| topic | competition Allelopathy secondary metabolism Pinus halepensis Quercus pubescens Phenotypic response |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2016.00594/full |
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