Secondary succession on grasss slopes. II

Fundamental study on allelopathie of Festuca rubra

Abstract

Germination experiments of a few grasses and weeds were carried out to make sure of the toxic effect of root exudate from creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) upon other plants.
Some of the methods of experiments are (1) germination tests of perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne) and Artemisia vulgaris in Petri dishes with filter paper from which dense seedlings of creeping red fescue had been removed, (2) Artemisia vulgaris tests in Petri deshes with filter paper with alcohol extract of root exudate, and (3) Artemisia vulgaris tests in Petri dishes with soil with alcohol extract of root exudate.
The results were obtained:
(1) Root exudate of creeping red fescue had few effects on germination of perennial rye grass and Artemisia vulgaris.
(2) An obvious effect could be found on the growth of these seedlings, especially on their root growth.
From another experiment, that is, germination tests of Miscanthus sinensis in Petri dishes with soil from creeping red fescue field, it could be found that the germinating rate of this species was lower compared with the check.
From these results, it may be presumed that the root exudate of creeping red fescue has toxic effct on germinut'on of plants, of which germinating energies are smaller.