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Hormone‐like activity of humic substances in Fagus sylvaticae forests
Author(s) -
Pizzeghello Diego,
Nicolini Gianni,
Nardi Serenella
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.0028-646x.2001.00223.x
Subject(s) - beech , fagus sylvatica , environmental chemistry , soil water , chemistry , black spruce , picea abies , botany , biogeochemical cycle , ecology , biology , taiga
Summary• Soil A horizons from a large area typical for beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) in northern Italy were investigated to understand the phyto‐hormone‐like activity of humic substances (HS) with respect to the vegetation. These soils had developed under thermophilous ( Cephalonthero–Fagion with Carici albae–Fagetum ), mesophilous ( Fagion sylvaticae with Dentario pentaphylli–Fagetum and Galio‐odourati–Fagetum ) or acidophilous ( Luzulo–Fagion with Luzulo niveae–Fagetum ) beech forests. • The development of organic and humic matter in the three forest types was assessed by quantifying chemical parameters. Phyto‐hormone‐like activity of HS was evaluated by measuring auxin‐like (IAA like ) and gibberellin‐like (GA like ) activity as well as IAA concentration, invertase and peroxidase activities. • Soil pH differed between the forest types. Soil C: N distinguished the thermophilous and the mesophilous from the acidophilous types but did not distinguish thermophilous from the mesophilous types. Phyto‐hormone‐like activity of HS varied significantly across the beech forests. Acid conditions were essential for the release of IAA like activity whereas neutral conditions promoted GA like activity. Plant isoenzymatic polymorphism confirmed the different auxin activities of HS. • The phyto‐hormone‐like activity of HS is highly suitable, and better than soil chemical parameters, for differentiating between these ecosystems.