Ecophysiological factors contributing to the invasion of Panicum maximum into native Miscanthus sinensis grassland in Taiwan

• Published in: Weed research 2016-02, Vol.56 (1), p.69-77
• Main Authors: Ho, C-Y, Tsai, M-Y, Huang, Y-L, Kao, W-Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Eulalia grass; fire; grass ecosystem; Guinea grass; invasive plant
• ISSN: 0043-1737; 1365-3180
• DOI: 10.1111/wre.12186

Panicum maximum (guinea grass), a native grass of Africa, has invaded and displaced the native Miscanthus sinensis grassland at Dadu terrace in central Taiwan. The Dadu terrace has distinct wet and dry seasons and is prone to fire during the dry seasons. We compared photosynthesis and growth, as well as the growth response to two water treatments, between P. maximum and M. sinensis plants to understand ecophysiological factors contributing to the successful invasion of the grass. In comparison with M. sinensis, P. maximum had a significantly higher photosynthetic rate, larger specific leaf area and a higher leaf area/total biomass ratio, and thus grew faster and higher, and accumulated more biomass under well‐watered conditions. The growth of P. maximum was more susceptible than M. sinensis to drought stress. Faster growth of seedlings and more biomass accumulation of mature plants would give P. maximum a highly competitive advantage over M. sinensis for resource acquisition in the Dadu terrace during the wet season, which might contribute to the successful invasion of P. maximum into the grassland of M. sinensis.