Allelopathic Characteristics of Artemisia tridentata and Purshia tridentata and Implications for Invasive Species Management

Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) are native species to the sagebrush ecosystem of northern Nevada. Both of these species exhibit allelopathic effects, whereby they produce chemicals that inhibit or prevent the growth of other plants nearby. In this experiment, extracts of sagebrush and bitterbrush are used to examine the extent and quality of this growth inhibition on Wisconsin fast plants (Brassica rapa). Both plants were found to severely inhibit growth to similar degrees, making them potentially viable resources for resisting exotic weed invasion