Exploring the differences in the invasion potential of Sphagneticola trilobata in three invasive habitats based on photosynthetic and photoprotective capacities

Few studies have simultaneously assessed the growth characteristics and invasion potential of invasive plants in different habitats by integrating photosynthetic physiology with photoprotective strategies. In this study, we compared the growth, photosynthetic physiology, and photoprotective strategies of the widespread invasive plant Sphagneticola trilobata in three representative habitats: farmland, woodland, and riverside. Our results showed that S. trilobata exhibited the highest growth performance in farmland, which correlated with the highest net photosynthetic rate, electron transfer rate, and antioxidant substances. Plants from the riverside habitat showed intermediate growth, with the highest quantum yield of unregulated energy dissipation at PSII. Plants in the woodland had the worst growth status. These findings suggest that S. trilobata possesses the strongest invasion potential in farmland, intermediate potential at the riverside, and the weakest in woodland. This study provides novel insights for habitat-specific invasion risk assessment of alien plant species.