The preemptive control strategy for invasive plant seed banks triggering ecological threats through synchronized germination

Invasive alien plants threaten global ecosystems by disrupting biodiversity and degrading ecological functions. Soil seed banks-the reservoirs of viable seeds in the soil-play a crucial role in the persistence and spread of plant populations. However, current control measures for invasive plants predominantly target above-ground vegetation, neglecting these underground seed reserves, thereby allowing invasive plants to re-establish their populations. Inducing synchronous germination to deplete seed banks offers a potential preemptive control strategy. This study hypothesizes that seeds of invasive plants secrete secondary metabolites to promote the synchronous germination of conspecific seeds. Focusing on Ambrosia trifida L., a globally harmful annual invasive plant, where the soil seed bank plays a crucial role in its continued impact. We used metabolomics to identify such metabolites and found that Angelicin significantly enhances germination rates by up to 116.9 % (P < 0.01). Field experiments conducted in the native habitat demonstrated that applying Angelicin at concentrations of 0.015 μg ml^-1 or higher depleted over 85 % of the seed bank (P < 0.01) without harming indigenous plant communities. These findings confirm the feasibility of depleting underground seed banks through induced germination. Integrating this strategy with traditional above-ground control methods can develop a comprehensive management system, offering a promising new approach for the widespread control of invasive plants.