Osmo-Protectant Solute Studies Revealed Their Involvement in Stress Adaptation in Invasive Alien Species Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), Parthenium hysterophorous L. (Asteraceae), Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) under Abiotic Stress Like Conditions

Invasive Alien Species are non-native plant species that displace native species and pose adverse effects to environment, ecosystem, economy and human health by diminishing the growth of native plants and also possess higher stress tolerance. In our present study four invasive alien species, namelyLantana camara,Parthenium hysterophorous,Ricinus communisandAgeratum conyzoides, were studied from different locations. Plants growing under natural environmental conditions were sampled at random in the vicinity of Jalandhar. In order to gain insight into biochemical basis of invasiveness of the plants, samples were subjected to osmo-protectant proline and glycine betaine studies. Indices of oxidative stress like malondialdehyde (MDA) were also studied. Increase in proline and glycine betaine, osmo-protectant solutes was observed under adverse conditions. On the basis of obtained results, it could be concluded that studied plants viz.= namelyP. hysterophorus,L. camara,R. communisandA. conyzoideshave the potential to cope with abiotic stress like high temperature, which could be the cause of the invasiveness and vast adaptability of the plant.