Effects of Monopolization of Carbon and Nutrients - Research Paper Example

Research paper on the effects of monopolization of carbon and nutrients by Alliaria petiolata to other plants Introduction The term ‘allelopathy’ was introduced in early 1937 by Molisch when he discovered that there existed both detrimental and beneficial biological interactions among all plants and microorganism (Rivzi 1). His discovery aided Rice in coming up with a more clear definition of allelopathy. According to Rice, allelopathy is any effect (beneficial or harmful) by one plant or microorganism on another via excretion of chemical compounds to the environment (Rivzi 1). Since then, many researches have been carried out to determine the beneficial and detrimental impacts of allelopathy on agricultural practices. For instance, Bellard, McCarthy and Meekins studied on genetic variation as well as biogeography of Alliaria petiolata in North America in 1st January 2001. According to their findings, Alliaria petiolata varied in not only phenology, but also morphology across all the native plants in which it grew ( Bellard, McCarthy and Meekins 161). They also found out that Alliaria petiolata also varied in terms of seed dormancy. In their results, they also stipulate that Alliaria petiolata is a hexaploid plant species based on n=7. In tandem to Bellard, McCarthy and Meekins findings, Hanson and McCarthy also claim that Alliaria petiolata is one of the plant species that have contributed to the loss of many indigenous plants in North America. They assert that Alliaria petiolata is a non-indigenous plant species that belongs to Brassicaceae family (Hanson and McCarthy 68). According to them, it was first identified in North America in early 1868. Unlike other Brassicaceae, Hanson and McCarthy spotulate that Alliaria petiolata spreads in the introduced environment very fast because of its monopolization of resources. To justify their point, they expound on how it took it only 20 years to spread throughout the northeastern parts of North America. By 1991, Alliaria pestiolata had spread to Canada and was identified in 30 U.S states (Blazevic and Mastelic 607). In tandem to this, Bossodorf and Prati also found out that it is through characteristic features and adaptations that Alliaria petiolata managed to invade and successively destroy North American woodlands (Bossdorf and Prati 1). They also found out that the effects of Alliaria petiolata varied with plant species; some species such as G. laciniatum was least sensitive to the allelopathic interference. In their study, Meiners and Pisula also found out that invasive plant species conquer and advance successfully in introduced areas because of allelopathy. According to them, invasive plants produce allelochemicals that inhibit the growth of the indigenous plants (Meiners and Pisula 81). Problem statement As introduced above, it is evident that many researches have been carried on detrimental effects of Alliaria petiolata. However, it is evident that little has been discussed on how this plant species hampers with the growth and development of other plants in a given area. Many researchers have not mentioned in their studies on how this plant species affect the carbon and nutrient cycling in a given environment. They have also not conducted experiments to justify their claims. Unfortunately, it is through such negligence in researches that Alliaria petiolata managed to conquer and spread widely in North America. For effective management of any problem in agriculture, it is crucial for its effects on other plants to be analyzed fully. Thus, it is crucial for the carbon and nutrient content of a given environment to be analyzed in order to know and understand the effects of Alliaria petiolata on the growth and development of other plants. In tandem to this, this study will detail on the effect of chemicals produced by Alliaria petiolata on other plant species as well as the effects of its monopolization of resources. Hypothesis H1 Alliaria petiolata manipulates the carbon and nutrient content of soil as well as colonize the roots of other plants. H0 Alliaria petiolata neither manipulates the carbon and nutrient content of soil nor colonize the roots of other plants. Methods Materials i. Microscope ii. Sterile water iii. 70% ethanol iv. Trypan blue stain v. 5% KOH vi. Refrigerator (storage of samples) vii. Carbon extractor viii. Root samples ix. Steam distiller x. Leaf samples from Alliaria petiolata and woodland plant from the same area Methodology The study site was a 22 hectare forest referred to as Trillium Trail found in Allegheny, Pennyslavia. Trillium forest is covered with diverse types of trees. However, the most abundant trees are woodland species and some traces of herbaceous plants. Among the herbaceous plants, Alliaria petiolata are the most common. Alliaria petiolata grows in patches in this forest. In this forest, 10 different species of plants were also identified. That is, false Solomon’s seal, Alliaria, and other unique plant species. Plants were collected by digging them carefully from the soil in order to reduce disturbance of other plants as much as possible. Soil was then scrubbed from the roots into a container and then transported to the laboratory. In the laboratory all collected roots were washed with sterile water to remove any soil trace. They were then cut 1 cm from the rhizome and introduced to 70% ethanol which was then stored at 40 for future analysis. Colonization of other plants’ roots 250mg of each wet root was used in estimating the effect of Alliaria petiolata on the roots of other plants. The roots were stained by use of trypan blue that was in lactic acid using the procedure outlined by Kormanik and McGraw (1982). The roots were then distained in 5% KOH for 6 hours at 250c, and then stained at 250c for 2 hours. The roots were then destined overnight. Trypan blue was used because it is one of the stains that enhance one to estimate the impact of one plant’s roots on another plant’s roots. The roots were then observed via aid of the microscope. Some roots had coils whereas others had intersections. The intersections were as a result of Alliaria petiolata which colonized the rot system of other plants. The coiled roots on the other hand were as a result of root shortness of some plant species. Extraction of oils and chemical defenses Invasive plants use allelopathy to auto-compete other native plants in a given area. To distinguish such plants from others is not that easy; it requires conductions of experiments in order to determine the allelopathic potential of different plants. In identifying the leaf extract concentration of Alliaria petiolata, woodland plant, and other plant species in Trillium forest in North America, 100gm of the leaf size was weighed from each sample collected and placed in a steam distiller separately. They were then boiled at different temperature depending on the boiling points of the oils. The purpose of introducing the 100gm leaves in the steam distiller was to extract oil present in the leaves. Distillation process allows components to be distilled according to their constituents. This method enhanced collection of different types of oils in the plant extracts which assisted in identifying the additional components in Alliaria petiolata that aided it in auto-competing its competitors in Trillium forest. The method was also used in order to identify the chemical defenses used by Alliaria petiolata against other plants in North America. Additionally, steam distillation enhanced the collection of cyanide from Alliaria petiolata; a chemical responsible for growth inhibition and death of many living organisms. Monopolization of carbon To justify the opinions of many researchers on how Alliaria petiolata inhibit the growth of other plants in North America through monopolizing carbon, carbon extract was used in extracting carbon from Alliaria petiolata woodland plant, and other plant species that grew in Trillium forest. This was achieved via use of a simple method under room temperature. In the extraction process, 100gm leaf from Alliaria petiolata woodland plant, and the other unidentified plant were hot boiled in 80% ethanol after exposing the contents in 80% ethanol at room temperature for 3 days. This method showed that there was a great variation between the carbon in Alliaria petiolata, woodland plant, and the unidentified plant species. The highest carbon content was extracted from Alliaria petiolata. Data and statistical analysis Differences in length of plant roots in Trillium forest were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. Two-way ANOVA was selected because the study involved testing the lengths three plant species. The area in which the plant samples were collected was used in estimating the population abundance of Alliaria petiolata and other plants as well as identifying the effects of Alliaria petiolata on other plants that grew on that area. A t-test was also used in testing the hypothesis that Alliaria petiolata neither manipulates the carbon and nutrient content of soil nor colonize the roots of other plants. Works Cited Blazevic, Ivica and Mastelic Josip. “Free and Bound Volatiles of Garlic Mustard(Alliaria petiolata).” Croat. Chem. Acta 81(4). (2008): 607-613. Print. Bossdorf, Oliver and Prati Daniel. “Allelopathic inhibition of germination by Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae). American Journal of Botany.” 2003. Print. Hanson, Sheryl and McCarthy Brian. “An Assessment of the Allelopathic Potential of the Invasive Weed Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae).” 1998. Meiners, Scott and Pisula Nikki. “Relative Allelopathic Potential of Invasive Plant Species in a Young Disturbed Woodland.” The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 2010. Print. Read More