Inhabition of Cattail Germination by Interspecific and Intraspecific Cattail Root Extracts
Location
CSU 284A
Start Date
5-4-2010 1:00 PM
End Date
5-4-2010 3:00 PM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Bradley Cook
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Three species of cattails are common in the upper Midwest. Typha latifolia is native to North America, T. angustafolia is an exotic species introduced from Eurasia, and T. x glauca is a hybrid between T. latifolia and T. angustafolia. Typha angustifolia and T. x glauca are invasive species that are reducing the biological diversity of many wetlands in southern Minnesota and have become difficult to manage. Individuals of each species produce ~250,000 seeds each year but preliminary genetic profiles of cattail communities suggest that each species primarily reproduces clonally through rhizomes. Therefore, seeds are not effective locally and invasive clonal reproduction suggests that a strong competitive mechanism is at work. Some research suggests that T. latifolia releases auto-toxic root exudates that inhibit germination of conspecifics and T. angustafolia has a similar allelopathic effect on native heterospecifics. Here we tested the effects of cattail root extracts on cattail germination for all interspecific and intraspecific combinations and using deionized water as a control in bioassays. From field observations T. latifolia has the fewest conspecific neighbors and T. x glauca has the fewest heterospecific neighbors. We predict that T. latifolia will have the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination of conspecifics and T. x glauca will have the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination of heterospecifics.
Inhabition of Cattail Germination by Interspecific and Intraspecific Cattail Root Extracts
CSU 284A
Three species of cattails are common in the upper Midwest. Typha latifolia is native to North America, T. angustafolia is an exotic species introduced from Eurasia, and T. x glauca is a hybrid between T. latifolia and T. angustafolia. Typha angustifolia and T. x glauca are invasive species that are reducing the biological diversity of many wetlands in southern Minnesota and have become difficult to manage. Individuals of each species produce ~250,000 seeds each year but preliminary genetic profiles of cattail communities suggest that each species primarily reproduces clonally through rhizomes. Therefore, seeds are not effective locally and invasive clonal reproduction suggests that a strong competitive mechanism is at work. Some research suggests that T. latifolia releases auto-toxic root exudates that inhibit germination of conspecifics and T. angustafolia has a similar allelopathic effect on native heterospecifics. Here we tested the effects of cattail root extracts on cattail germination for all interspecific and intraspecific combinations and using deionized water as a control in bioassays. From field observations T. latifolia has the fewest conspecific neighbors and T. x glauca has the fewest heterospecific neighbors. We predict that T. latifolia will have the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination of conspecifics and T. x glauca will have the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination of heterospecifics.
Recommended Citation
Beal, Lauren. "Inhabition of Cattail Germination by Interspecific and Intraspecific Cattail Root Extracts." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 5, 2010.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2010/oral-session-06/2
