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Intraspecific kin recognition contributes to interspecific allelopathy:A case study of allelopathic rice interference with paddy weeds
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  • You Xu,
  • Huifang Cheng,
  • Chuihua Kong,
  • Scott Meiners
You Xu
China Agricultural University College of Resources and Environmental Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Huifang Cheng
China Agricultural University College of Resources and Environmental Sciences
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Chuihua Kong
China Agricultural University
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Scott Meiners
Eastern Illinois University
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Abstract

Species interactions and mechanisms affect plant coexistence and community assembly. Despite increasing knowledge of kin recognition and allelopathy in regulating interspecific and intraspecific interactions among plants, little is known about whether kin recognition mediates allelopathic interference. We used allelopathic rice cultivars with the ability for kin recognition grown in kin vs. non-kin mixtures to determine their impacts on paddy weeds in field trials and a series of controlled experiments. We experimentally tested potential mechanisms of the interaction via altered root behavior, allelochemical production, and soil microbial community composition, as well as carbon and nitrogen partitioning in the weeds. We consistently found that the establishment and growth of paddy weeds were more inhibited by kin mixtures compared to non-kin mixtures. The effect was driven by kin recognition that induced altered root placement, established similar soil microbial communities, and altered weed carbon and nitrogen partitioning. Importantly, genetic relatedness enhanced the production of intrusive roots towards weeds and reduced the production of rice allelochemicals. These findings suggest that relatedness allows allelopathic plants to discriminate their neighboring collaborators (kin) or competitors and then adjust their growth, competitiveness and chemical defense accordingly.
10 Mar 2021Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
11 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
11 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
19 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
22 Apr 20211st Revision Received
24 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
24 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
27 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
04 May 20212nd Revision Received
04 May 2021Assigned to Editor
04 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
04 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 May 2021Editorial Decision: Accept