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Resprouting Control of Ailanthus altissima by Means of Cut and Stump Covering: Experimental Evidence for a Promising Technique

Authors :
Iduna Arduini
Silvia Pampana
Viola Alessandrini
Source :
Diversity, Vol 16, Iss 8, p 471 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Ailanthus altissima is an invasive tree threatening the biodiversity in natural and disturbed habitats of temperate regions, primarily because of its high resprouting vigor. To test the effect of light exclusion on stem and root sprouting, black covers were applied on the cut stumps of 3-year-old saplings grown in pots. The treatments were as follows: SL, stumps exposed to light; SH, only stumps covered; SPH, the entire pot covered; C, intact control plants. The covers were removed when the root sprouts appeared. The emergence of stem and root sprouts was checked weekly, and their number and biomass were determined at the growth peak (cut I and III) and the end (cut II and IV) of two seasons after cutting. Stem sprouts were produced only in the first growth season in SL and SH and never in SPH and the controls. The number and biomass of the root sprouts were the highest in SH at cut I and in SL in the following cuts. In SH, the sprouting ceased completely after cut I, suggesting a rapid consumption of root reserves, while in SL and SPH, repeated cutting progressively reduced the sprouting vigor. We concluded that covering the stems after cutting is a promising technique to control ailanthus resprouting without the use of herbicides.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14242818
Volume :
16
Issue :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Diversity
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.263399b0f8034cf0a42ac21bc851bd14
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080471