Allelopathic potential of selected woody species growing on fly-ash deposits

• Main Authors: Grbović Filip, Gajić Gordana, Branković Snežana, Simić Zoran, Ćirić Andrija, Rakonjac Ljubinko, Pavlović Pavle, Topuzović Marina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad 2019-01-01
• Series: Archives of Biological Sciences
• Subjects: allelopathy; flavonoids; fly ash; invasive plant species; phenolic acids; radicle growth inhibition
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2019/0354-46641800050G.pdf

The objective of this study was to determine the allelopathic potential of Robinia pseudoacacia L., Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle and Amorpha fruticosa L. that grow on the fly-ash deposits at the “Nikola Tesla – A” thermoelectric power plant in Obrenovac. The chemical characteristics of fly ash, such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), content of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), contents of available phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O), the contents of total and available Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn as well as of phenolic acids (3,5 dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,5-DHBA) and ferulic acid) and flavonoids (rutin and quercetin) were analyzed in control fly ash (bare zones without vegetation cover) and plant rhizospheric fly ash. In order to determine the allelopathic activity of phenolic compounds in fly ash, modified soil sandwich allelopathic biotests were performed, and Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) was used as the indicator species. A. fruticosa showed the highest allelopathic activity, followed by A. altissima whereas R. pseudoacacia showed the lowest allelopathic potential. Negative correlation was noted between radicle and hypocotyl growth inhibition of red clover and the pH of fly ash. Positive correlations were found between radicle growth inhibition and the content of C, P2O5, total concentrations of Cu, available concentrations of Mn and Ni, the contents of ferulic acid, 3,5-DHBA, and rutin. Our results indicate that A. fruticosa and A. altissima increased the content of phenolics in fly ash, which can act as allelochemicals leading to radicle growth inhibition of red clover in the pioneer plant community on fly-ash deposits. These woody species that colonized fly-ash deposits can initiate the beginning of pedogenetic processes altering the ecosystem processes at degraded sites. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III41010, Grant no. OI173018 and Grant no. TR31070]