Effect of soil pH on the growth and competitiveness of invasive plant Aegilops tauschii

WANG Ning, YUAN Meili, HUANG Zixuan, LIU Chang, ZHANG Xiaoyuan, TIAN Yaowu

JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (5) : 87-94.

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南京林业大学学报（自然科学版）
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JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (5) : 87-94. DOI: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202304014

Effect of soil pH on the growth and competitiveness of invasive plant Aegilops tauschii

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Abstract

【Objective】 Aegilops tauschii, has emerged as one of the most detrimental weed threatening winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) production systems across China. This study investigates the morphological and physiological adaptation mechanisms of A. tauschii under soil acidification stress, aiming to establish a scientific foundation for early warning systems and ecological management strategies against its invasive expansion.【Method】A controlled pot experiment was conducted using de Wit’s replacement series design to systematically compare seedling morphological characteristics, physiological-biochemical responses, and interspecific competitiveness between A. tauschii and wheat. Five soil pH gradients (7.5, 7.0, 6.5, 6.0, 5.5) and two planting patterns (monoculture and mixed planting) were established. 【Result】(1) Two-way ANOVA analysis revealed that different soil pH levels significantly affected seedling height, leaf area, and total biomass. (2) As soil pH decreased, seedling height, leaf area, and total biomass also decreased, indicating inhibited growth. However, when the pH decreased to 5.5, the reductions in seedling height, leaf area, and total biomass were significantly lower in A. tauschii than in wheat, suggesting a superior adaptation capacity of A. tauschii to low pH. (3) As pH decreased, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and proline content tended to increase. However, with a further decrease in pH (pH 6.0-5.5), relative electrical conductivity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content significantly increased, potentially due to exacerbated cell membrane damage at low pH. (4) Competitive indices (relative yield, relative yield total, and competition coefficient) indicated that A. tauschii consistently exhibited higher competitive abilities than wheat across all pH conditions. The competition coefficient (CB) of A. tauschii initially increased and then decreased with declining pH. 【Conclusion】A. tauschii demonstrates a capacity to adapt to decreasing soil pH through adjustments in morphological structure, biomass allocation patterns, and physiological characteristics. Within the experimental pH range (5.5-7.5), its stress resistance and competitive ability consistently exceeded that those of wheat.

Key words

soil pH / Aegilops tauschii / competitive balance / wheat(Triticum aestivum)

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WANG Ning , YUAN Meili , HUANG Zixuan , et al . Effect of soil pH on the growth and competitiveness of invasive plant Aegilops tauschii[J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY. 2025, 49(5): 87-94 https://doi.org/10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202304014

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