Abstract:
The pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of volatile oil from an invasive plant, Chenopodium ambrosioides L. and its two main components α -terpene and cymene on the photosynthetic characteristics of Vicia faba Seedling. The results showed the volatile oil treatment significantly reduced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPsⅡ) and total chlorophyll content. However, it increased the concentration of intercellular CO2, which was the dual effect of dose and time, and the effect of high dosed volatile oil treatment was irreversible. Compared with the control group, α–terpene treatment reduced Pn, Fv/Fm and ΦPsⅡ, and increased Ci, Gs and Tr, and all the parameters were gradually approaching to the control level after stopping treatment. The effect of cymene on photosynthetic characteristics of V. faba Seedling were not significant. These results suggested that the volatile allelochemical stress from C. ambrosioides on photosynthesis of receptor plant was due to the the synergistic effect of many allelochemicals, instead of a single component.