Allelopathy in bryophytes, an in vitro study on the effects of secondary metabolites on moss development and soil microbiota

Abstract

Allelopathy is a term first introduced by Hans Molisch in his 1937 book titled The Influence of One Plant on Another: Allelopathy and, as it stands, it is defined as the biological phenomenon through which growth, development, reproduction or survival of an organism are altered by the release of biochemicals from another. In this study, we investigate the allelochemical potential of leachates collected from bryophytes. The species selected for this experiment consist of mosses commonly found throughout Swedish woodlands and could therefore constitute an appropriate environmental indicator of the current state of southern Scandinavian forests. Our results demonstrate the decisive effects produced by the extracted chemicals on moss spore germination and soil microbiota. We coupled our research with ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) as to gain insight on the leachates’ composition.

As plants colonise the near totality of this planet and provide the fundamental basis for most ecosystems, it is of the greatest importance to understand how these organisms not only shape the food webs in plant-animal relationships, but how the less studied plant-plant relationships function. By delving deeper into the fascinating subject of bryophyte interactions one could shed light on a plethora of different environments and habitats. Not to mention, finding a new way to dissect and analyse plant interactions as a whole.

Popular Abstract

Allelopathic interactions in Bryophytes


As plants colonise the near totality of this planet and provide the fundamental basis for most ecosystems, it is of the greatest importance to understand how these organisms not only shape the food webs in plant-animal interactions, but how the less studied plant-plant interactions function.
Allelopathy is defined as the biological phenomenon through which growth, development, reproduction or survival of an organism are altered by the release of biochemicals from another. In my project I would like to focus on this extremely interesting aspect of plant metabolism to better understand the effects and chemical species produced by different moss species.

Common allelopathic compounds have been defined and recognized in vascular plants, but very few studies focus on Bryophytes, even if they comprise a great portion of many ecosystems.
The moss species selected (Sphagnum medium, Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum majus, Leptrobrium pyriformes, Brium argenteum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Dicranum scoparium, Polytrichum formosum, Dicranella heteromalla, Racomitrium lanuginosum) for this study are commonly found throughout Swedish forests and would shed light on the minute mechanisms that shape these type of environments. By growing the mosses in liquid culture we could investigate the media including biochemicals which have been exudated from the mosses. The media will be used for assays where spores of selected species will be exposed to the exudated biochemicals on sterile agar plates. The germination success will be assessed in comparison to controls without the media.
Microscopic analyses on the mosses' growth stages will be used in tandem with the aforementioned assay to understand when and how severe possible metabolic or growth differences would surface. If interactions can be proven in these initial assays, a next step would be to test if other organisms, such as soil microbiota or planktonic algae show allelopathic response with exudates. Preliminary contacts have been taken with partners in other research groups that could assist in such assays.

Aims of the study:

- Determine whether any underlying mechanisms affect moss growth in in vitro conditions;
- Observe differences (both positive and negative) in moss metabolism when exposed to chemical species produced by other mosses;
- Study and analyse the chemical compounds produced and determine whether they are known to have effects;
- Find a reliable method to study allelopathy in vitro to further fuel new discoveries in the field;

In modern times ecosystems throughout the globe are being devastated by artificial intrusion and if we are to make an effort to reverse this negative trend we need to understand the complexity of the interactions between the different trophic levels. Using Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts – nonvascular seedless plants) to perform this study would ensure an easier way to test our techniques and understanding of the matter. We cannot think to have the solutions to save this planet from the ongoing climatic crisis if we do not possess the will to start from the base of the ecosystems.

It is at the base of ecosystems that the biochemical communication between plants takes place; some species release chemicals to inhibit or outright block other organisms from growing in the vicinity, others utilize fungal symbionts to spread messages throughout entire forests when one individual gets wounded by a predator, while a portion of interactions has been observed to promote growth of different individuals and even boost colonisation of different species.
Influencing this planet in ways we do not yet fully understand, a whole world of unseen interactions lies at the base of habitats. If we want to protect them, or what remains, we should start from here: where plants talk to each other.



Master's Degree Project in Biology, Plant Science 60 credits 2021
Department of Biology, Lund's University

Supervisor: Nils Cronberg - [e-mail]
Department of Ecology, Biodiversity group

• author: di Bello, Carlo
• supervisor: Nils Cronberg
• organization: Degree Projects in Biology
• course: BION03 20212
• year: 2022
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Biology and Life Sciences
• language: English
• id: 9102919
• date added to LUP: 2022-11-07 15:55:33
• date last changed: 2022-11-07 15:55:33