Allelopathic inhibition of black cherry by fern, grass, goldenrod, and aster

Small black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.) seedlings grow slowly and soon die in low-density cherry–maple (Acerrubrum L.) orchard stands colonized by a dense ground cover of bracken fern (Pteridiumaquilinum L.), wild oat grass (Danthoniacompressa Aust.), goldenrod (Solidagorugosa Ait.), and flat-topped aster (Asterumbellatus Mill.). Studies of orchard stand persistence indicated that allelopathic interference occurred between black cherry seedlings and the herbaceous ground-cover plants. Foliage extracts of fern, goldenrod, and aster inhibited seed germination; aster foliage extract inhibited both shoot and root growth of seedlings growing on cotyledonary reserves; foliage extracts of fern, grass, goldenrod, and aster and root washings of goldenrod and aster inhibited shoot growth and dry weight accumulation of seedlings that had exhausted cotyledonary reserves. Soil from the upper horizons of an orchard stand did not moderate the toxicity of the herbaceous foliage extracts or root washings.