Invasive Allelopathy - Warren Wilson College

Invasive Allelopathy: A germination study examining the inhibitive effects of
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin Durz.), Kudzu (Pueraria montana), and English Ivy
(Hedora helix)
Abstract
Clayton Hollifield
Michael Torres
In order to investigate the allelopathic effects of some invasive species on the
seed germination of native plants this experiment was conducted in the laboratory
of the Science Department at Warren Wilson College in 2011. This study looked at
the effect of water based extract solutions of Kudzu (Pueraria montana), Mimosa
(Albizia julibrissin Durz.) and English Ivy (Hedora helix) on the germination rate of
Radish (Raphanus sativus) and Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Results
produced by attempting to germinate 50 Radish and Black Locust Seeds in control
and experimental groups testing the water based extracts of Kudzu, Mimosa and
English Ivy indicate that Kudzu may inhibit the germination of a broad range of
plants, any allelopathic effect demonstrated by Mimosa does not appear to impact
the germination rate of other plants, but may affect neighboring plants in other
ways, and that English Ivy exhibits a limited allelopathic potential against the
germination rate of other plants.

Invasive Allelopathy: A germination study examining the inhibitive effects of
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin Durz.), Kudzu (Pueraria montana), and English Ivy
(Hedora helix)
Bibliography
Clayton Hollifield
Michael Torres
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