Allelopathic Effect of Black Cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i> Ehrh.) on Early Growth of White Mustard (<i>Sinapis alba</i> L.) and Common Buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum esculentum</i> Moench): Is the Invader a Threat to Restoration of Fallow Lands?

Abandoned agricultural land present in most European countries constitutes a resource of land that can be restored to agricultural production. Fallow colonization by invasive plant species contributes to changes in the course of natural secondary succession. This may modify the possibilities of returning fallow lands to agriculture, which constitutes an issue that needs to be investigated. In this study, the phytotoxic effect of invasive black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) on two crop plants commonly used for fallow land utilization, white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), was assessed. The influence of water extracts from P. serotina litter and the soil collected under the individuals of this species was investigated. Sinapis alba was found to be more sensitive to allelochemicals released by P. serotina than F. esculentum. Litter extracts and soil with residues of P. serotina significantly inhibited both germination and growth of S. alba seedlings, estimated with length and mass of the above-ground and underground parts. In the case of F. esculentum, a negative effect of the tested extracts and soil on root mass reduction was observed. Preliminary results of our laboratory tests suggest that cultivation of white mustard should be avoided in the reclamation of fallows with black cherry

Allelopathic Effect of Black Cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) on Early Growth of White Mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench): Is the Invader a Threat to Restoration of Fallow Lands?

Abandoned agricultural land present in most European countries constitutes a resource of land that can be restored to agricultural production. Fallow colonization by invasive plant species contributes to changes in the course of natural secondary succession. This may modify the possibilities of returning fallow lands to agriculture, which constitutes an issue that needs to be investigated. In this study, the phytotoxic effect of invasive black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) on two crop plants commonly used for fallow land utilization, white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), was assessed. The influence of water extracts from P. serotina litter and the soil collected under the individuals of this species was investigated. Sinapis alba was found to be more sensitive to allelochemicals released by P. serotina than F. esculentum. Litter extracts and soil with residues of P. serotina significantly inhibited both germination and growth of S. alba seedlings, estimated with length and mass of the above-ground and underground parts. In the case of F. esculentum, a negative effect of the tested extracts and soil on root mass reduction was observed. Preliminary results of our laboratory tests suggest that cultivation of white mustard should be avoided in the reclamation of fallows with black cherry

Effect of <i>Prunus serotina</i> Ehrh. Volatile Compounds on Germination and Seedling Growth of <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.

In temperate European forests invaded by Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherry), a reduction in the spontaneous regeneration capacity of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) is observed. It could be caused by various factors, including allelopathic properties of this invasive plant. In this study the phytotoxic effect of P. serotina volatile compounds on P. sylvestris and the seasonal variation in this effect were assessed. Simple assays showed that volatiles emitted from P. serotina leaves significantly inhibited root growth of P. sylvestris seedlings. Their negative effect on stem growth was much weaker. The strongest phytotoxic effect on Scots pine seedlings was caused by the volatiles emitted from the youngest black cherry leaves. In fresh foliage of P. serotina, nineteen volatile organic compounds were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The dominant compound was benzaldehyde. On the basis of tests of linalool alone, it was found that this monoterpene present in the volatile fraction has a strong allelopathic potential and inhibits germination, root elongation and shoot elongation of pine seedlings. The results of our research suggest that volatile compounds from P. serotina leaves could limited survival of P. sylvestris individuals in the seedling phase

Soil Properties of Fallow Land Invaded by Black Cherry (<i>Padus serotina</i> (Ehrh.) Borkh.)

The extensive spread of the invasive black cherry, Padus serotina, has been observed on abandoned agricultural land in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the impact of this species on invaded agroecosystems is still unknown, including the possibility of returning these ecosystems to agricultural production. In order to evaluate the selected soil properties of fallows invaded by P. serotina, their texture, field water capacity, reaction, and content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available forms of potassium and phosphorus were determined for 100 study plots. Taking into account the influence of soil conditions on floristic composition, the area covered by individual plant species in the study plots was also included in the analysis. A relationship was found between the presence of all the developmental stages of P. serotina and an increase in the phosphorus content in the soil. With the growth of a black cherry shrub layer, the content of soil nitrogen and potassium increased. An increasing proportion of P. serotina in the herb layer contributed to soil acidification and reduced the water content available for plants in the arable layer at 20–40 cm. The possible impact of P. serotina on soil properties may be an additional premise when considering the possibilities and benefits of the recultivation of fallow land invaded by this species