Invasive and native plants differ in their effects on the soil microbial community and plant-soil phosphorus cycle

Exploring the expansion mechanisms of invasive plants from plant and soil systems is an important ecological research objective; however, plant and soil phosphorus (P) cycling is not well understood. We explored the potential of the soil microbial community to mediate organic P mineralization and allocation to invasive and native plants in South China. Soil samples were collected from three invasive plants of M. micrantha , B. pilosa , and I. cairica and three native plants of Persicaria chinensis , Paederia scandens and Pluchea indica , and soil microbial communities, enzyme activities, and soil P fractions were examined. Plant P concentrations and foliar P fractions were tested to determine P allocation. The results showed that invasive species had higher levels of acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase and induced a stronger acceleration of soil organic P decomposition. Moreover, the soil glucose dehydrogenase gene of the invasive species was more abundant than that of the native species, allowing it to mineralize more organic P. The invasive species had higher nucleic acid P and metabolic P in the foliar than in the native species because the invasive species allocated more P to photosynthesis. Our study suggests that invasive plants can enhance organic P decomposition by altering the soil microbial communities. In addition, invasive plants may have a higher P utilization efficiency than native plants. These results provide novel mechanistic explanations for the rapid expansion of invasive species in P-poor, lower latitudes.