Mustard Launches Underground Attack

2006

Invasive plants can be relentless in crowding out native species. They thrive because they lack natural enemies, grow faster, or reproduce more and therefore outcompete new neighbors for nutrients and other resources. And that's not all: New research shows they also engage in underground guerilla tactics, disrupting key relationships between roots and certain fungi. This strategy has enabled at least one species to get a foothold in well-established forests.