Allelopathic Effects of Wood Small-Reed (Calamagrostis epigejos) on Germination and Growth of Selected Grassland Species

The role of allelopathy in the displacement of given meadow species by wood small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos) is not well recognized. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the influence of volatile and aqueous extracts from C. epigejos on initial recruitment of typical mesic meadow species (Daucus carota, Rumex acetosa, Festuca pratensis and Dactylis glomerata). The activity of allelochemicals contained within above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass and necromass of the donor plant was estimated. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique led to the identification of 19 compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and esters) in C. epigejos volatile extracts. Aliphatic alcohols were the main group of identified chemicals, including (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate. The laboratory tests showed a significant inhibitory influence of volatile C. epigejos extracts on the growth of D. glomerata, D. carota and R. acetosa roots. The influence of aqueous C. epigejos extracts on selected meadow species was less evident. Only the seeds of D. glomerata and F. pratensis were found to be susceptible to water extracts of above-ground C. epigejos biomass. The seed germination was stimulated by the extracts at low concentrations but inhibited at higher concentrations. Among the tested plants only the growth of F. pratensis seedlings was inhibited by aqueous extracts obtained from all examined C. epigejos parts. In regarding to the other test species the effect of C. epigejos extracts was neutral or positive. The results suggest that C. epigejos has a allelopathic potential to suppress the growth of co-occurring grassland species.