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Allelopathic Impact of Three Non-Native Invasive Species on the Early Growth of Hybrids of American Chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.)

Hunter, Bailey A.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1729-6261
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1427883974

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Plant Biology (Arts and Sciences).
Since the loss of Castanea dentata (American chestnut) from eastern hardwood forests, invasive species have occupied many of the forests where chestnut once resided. Even though agencies have begun to replant hybrid chestnuts into the forests, no one has examined how invasive species might interact with American chestnut. In this study, allelopathic impacts on chestnut were mimicked by adding aqueous extracts or biomass of three allelopathic invasive species tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb.) Cavara and Grande), and Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii ( Rupr. ) Maxim.)) to soils supporting chestnut seedlings. In greenhouse experiments, chestnut seeds were treated weekly with aqueous extracts of biomass from the invasives. Chestnut seedlings were also planted in gardens and treated with root or shoot biomass from the invasives. Finally, chestnut seedlings were planted in a forest at sites with garlic mustard present and at sites where garlic mustard had been regularly removed for 8 yrs. Growth factors of chestnut, such as height, mass, and basal area, were measured. Chestnut seedlings treated with tree of heaven extracts had lower heights and more re-sprouts than the control groups. However, results were not consistent among the experiments. Chestnut seedlings treated with some invasive plant biomass, including tree of heaven biomass, had heights statistically similar to the control groups. When treated with roots of garlic mustard, chestnut heights were statistically lower than the negative control. Chestnut seedlings planted in garlic mustard plots in the forest were only statistically taller the first time they were measured, but were not statistically different thereafter. The results from these initial experiments suggest that the allelopathic effects from tree of heaven may negatively impact reintroduction of American chestnut; however, other invasives may be less problematic.
Brian McCarthy, Dr. (Advisor)
Jared Deforest, Dr. (Committee Member)
David Rosenthal, Dr. (Committee Chair)
65 p.
Ecology; Plant Biology
American chestnut; invasive species; allelopathy; garlic mustard; tree of heaven; Amur honeysuckle; Ailanthus altissima; Alliaria petiolata; Lonicera maackii; restoration; chestnut; total lipids analysis; Radar hill

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hunter, B. A. (2015). Allelopathic Impact of Three Non-Native Invasive Species on the Early Growth of Hybrids of American Chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1427883974

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hunter, Bailey. Allelopathic Impact of Three Non-Native Invasive Species on the Early Growth of Hybrids of American Chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) . 2015. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1427883974.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hunter, Bailey. "Allelopathic Impact of Three Non-Native Invasive Species on the Early Growth of Hybrids of American Chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) ." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1427883974

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1427883974
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.