PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 20: Invasive Species
Wednesday, August 10, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Ecological Controls on the Phytochemistry of the Invasive Plant Alliaria petiolata.
Abts, Anna*,1, Lang, Kimberly*,1, McConnaughay, Kelly1, Morris, Sherri1, Vaughn, Steve2, 1 Bradley University, Peoria, IL, USA2 USDA, Peoria, IL, USA
ABSTRACT- Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) is an invasive species in temperate forests throughout North America that has led to a decrease in species diversity and alterations in nutrient cycling. Garlic mustard produces a set of secondary chemicals in the glucosinolate family that have strong biocidal properties. We hypothesized that carbon and nitrogen availabilities in the environment would modulate internal (tissue level) C and N availability, which in turn modulate glucosinolate production. We examined variability in plant growth, tissue carbon, nitrogen, and glucosinolate profiles in natural populations of garlic mustard from five forest sites that vary in light availability, soil pH, and possibly soil nitrogen. Analyses of the field harvested plants showed that total growth differed across sites. First year plant growth was positively correlated with current light levels whereas second year plant growth was not. Glucosinolate production in first year plants was highest in sites where glucosinolate production was least for second year plants. Soil pH was positively correlated to sinigrin levels of second year plants, possibly suggesting that sinigrin has an effect on soil properties. Overall glucosinolate profiles were weakly but significantly correlated with percent tissue carbon but not percent tissue nitrogen. Garlic mustard's phytochemistry contributes to its role as an ecological change agent, therefore understanding the factors that regulate glucosinolate production will improve our ability to manage systems that are, or could become, dominated by this aggressive invader.
Key words: invasive, garlic mustard, glucosinolate, carbon and nitrogen allocation