Solidago canadensis alters rhizosphere bacterial communities
Solidago canadensis (Asteraceae: EPPO List Invasive Alien Plants) is native to North America and a widespread invasive alien plant in the EPPO region. It is also a widespread invasive in China where it has negative impacts on the habitats it invades including allelopathic impacts and the ability to affect soil microorganisms. These changes in the soil micro-environment further benefit S. canadensis by promoting its own seed germination. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of S. canadensis on the rhizosphere bacterial community of the native plant Artemisia argyi (Asteraceae) in China. In addition, the effect of nitrogen deposition and rising temperatures on the rhizosphere bacterial community was assessed both in combination and separately. Seed of A. argyi were sown in natural soils where nitrogen, warming or S. canadensis were added in a randomized experimental design. Temperature increase and nitrogen separately reduced the rhizosphere bacterial community beneath A. argyi. When S. canadensis was added at 50 percent cover, the rhizosphere bacterial community was altered and quickly become similar to the community under stands of the invasive species alone. Both temperature increase and nitrogen addition decreased the rhizosphere bacterial community below both plant species.
Sources
Wang YF, Zhang YL, Li Y, Ren GQ, Qi SS, Zhao BY, Dai ZC, DU DL (2026) Solidago canadensis alters rhizosphere bacterial communities of Artemisia argyi under warming and nitrogen deposition—invaded rhizospheres become similar to the invader’s. Plant Soil 520, 1641–1652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-026-08350-9