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Review
Genetics, novel weapons and rhizospheric microcosmal signaling in the invasion of Phragmites australis
Thimmaraju Rudrappa and Harsh P. Bais
volume 3 | issue 1
january 2008Pages: 1 - 5
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Chemical communication and perception strategies between plants are highly sophisticated but are only partly understood. Among the different interactions, the suppressive interaction of a class of chemicals released by one plant through root exudates against the neighboring plants (allelopathy) have been implicated in the invasiveness of many exotic weedy species. Phragmites australis (Common reed) is one of the dominant colonizers of the North American wetland marshes and exhibits invasive behavior by virtually replacing the entire native vegetation in its niche. Recently, by adopting a systemic bioassay driven approach we elucidated the role of root derived allelopathy as one of the important mechanisms by which P. australis exerts its invasive behavior. Additionally, our recent preliminary data indicates the involvement of rhizobacterial signaling in the invasive success of P. australis. A better understanding of biochemical weaponry used by P. australis will aid scientists and technologists in addressing the impact of root secretions in invasiveness of weedy species and thus promote a more informed environmental stewardship
Authors
Thimmaraju Rudrappa
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences; Delaware Biotechnology Institute; University of Delaware; Newark, Delaware USA
Harsh P. Bais
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences; Delaware Biotechnology Institute; University of Delaware; Newark, Delaware USA