A study on waterlogging as a potential tool to control Ligustrum sinense populations in western Tennessee

Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet) is an introduced species in the United S tates. Dense stands of L. sinense are found in the understory in many botto mland forests in western Tennessee. The widespread abundance of this specie s is problematic because of the potential loss of valuable native bottomlan d species due to competition. Flooding has been proposed as a potential mea ns of eradicating this species. Therefore, the objectives of this experimen t were to examine survival, growth, and physiological responses of L. sinen se under various flooding and shading regimes. An experiment consisting of three levels of flooding (control, shallow flooding, and deep flooding) and three levels of shading (full sun, 30-35% full sun (photosynthetic active radiation), and 10-15% sun) was performed in a greenhouse. Plant gas exchan ge was adversely affected in all flooded plants. Likewise, growth (height a nd diameter) was lower in those plants that were flooded as compared to non -flooded plants. However, morphological adaptations (i.e., lenticels and ad ventitious roots) were observed by the third week of the experiment. Plant survival in flooded treatments was 75% by the conclusion of the experiment, with an equal rate of survival seen in the shaded treatments compared to n on-shaded. Although flooding alone did have significant effects on physiolo gical function and growth, shading and shading x flooding interaction were not significant. Our data support the hypothesis that L. sinense is capable of withstanding both short-term flooding and shading; thus, shea-term floo ding is unlikely to irradicate this species from the infested bottomland st ands.