Differential effects of leaf litter and rhizosphere soil microbes on competition between invasive and native plants

Invasive plants commonly compete with native plants in the introduced range; however, how leaf litter and rhizosphere soil microbes influence the competition between invasive and native plants with varying microbial sources and seedling densities remains to be characterized. In this study, the invasive plant Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae) and two cooccurring native plant species, Senecio scandens (Asteraceae) and Achyranthes bidentata (Amaranthaceae), were used as experimental plants to test their impacts in a greenhouse. We observed that leaf litter and rhizosphere soil microbes negatively or neutrally impacted invasive or native plant growth when competing. However, microbes enhanced the competitive dominance of A. adenophora over S. scandens but weakened its competitiveness over A. bidentata . Leaf litter microbes were more beneficial for A. adenophora growth and thus made it more competitive than rhizosphere soil microbes when competing with S. scandens . Regardless of the presence or absence of microbes, conspecific inoculation was better for A. adenophora growth and thus enhanced competition dominance more than heterospecific inoculation when competing with A. bidentata . A high seedling density was more beneficial for A. adenophora competition dominance than a low density was when A. adenophora was competing with S. scandens . Nonetheless, the relative competitiveness of A. adenophora was greater than that of the two native species; in particular, A. adenophora had stronger competitive dominance over A. bidentata than over S. scandens . Our data confirmed that the important role of leaf litter microbes in the competition between invasive and native plants cannot be ignored. • Microbes do not positively impact plant growth when competing. • Microbes can change plant competition relationships. • Leaf microbes play a distinct role from soil microbes in terms of competition. • The relative competitiveness of invasive plant was greater than that of two natives.