Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Robinia pseudoacacia Depending on the Origin of Different Geographic Provenances

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is recognised as a forest species of interest due to its multiple uses. The management of forest genetic resources and their efficient conservation suffer from variations in traits and start with seed germination. The aim of the current study was to investigate the germination of seeds obtained from plus trees selected in eight Romanian provenances, as well as to investigate the influence of the origin upon plants’ growth and development. Two experiments were undertaken to test seed germination: one treatment involved water-soaked seeds and heat/cold treatment, while the other treatment was based on sulphuric acid, at different concentrations (50, 70, 90%). The results were correlated with the morphological analysis of the seeds. Satu-Mare had the lowest germination rate within both treatments. Sulphuric acid did not improve seed germination as much as the heat treatment. The highest germination rate occurred for the water and temperature treatment on seeds from Bihor provenance (68.2%). The most distant provenance was Bihor, in inverse correlation with Bistrița Năsăud and grouped separately within the hierarchical dendrogram of cluster analysis based on the analysed parameters of the provenances investigated. The results demonstrated that the genotypes and environmental heterogeneity of the seed origin within the provenances may finally result in different performances.

Seed viability of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is affected by seed origin and age, but also by testing method and laboratory

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is an annual Asteraceae species native to North America which is highly invasive across Europe and has harmful impacts, especially on human health and agriculture. Besides its wide ecological range, particularly its high reproductive power by seeds is promoting its spread to various habitats and regions. To prevent further spread and to control the plant, the European Commission funded projects and COST-Actions involving scientists from all over Europe. A joint trial was set up comprising eight different laboratories from Europe to study seed viability variation in different seed samples. Three different testing methods (viability test with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), a germination test combined with a subsequent TTC test and a crush test) were tested within the EU-COST-Action SMARTER network to four different seed origins. The viability test results from different laboratories were compared for variation amongst tests and laboratories. The main aim was to optimise the reliability of testing procedures, but results revealed not only significant effects of seed origin and seed age on seed viability, but also considerable differences between the output of the individual testing methods and furthermore between laboratories. Due to these significant differences in the results of the testing labs, additionally a second test was set up. Twelve Austrian ragweed populations were used for TTC testing to obtain a precise adjustment of the testing method as well as a tight guideline for interpreting the results, particularly for the TTC state “intermediate” since a proper classification of TTC-intermediate coloured seeds is still a challenge when determining viability rates.

Morphological Variability of Generative Individuals of Rare Decorative Ephemeroids of the Northern Tien Shan As Evidence of Their Adaptive Potential

We assessed the adaptive potential of two rare decorative species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan : Tulipa tarda Stapf (Liliaceae) and Gymnospermium altaicum (Pall.) Spach (Berberidaceae) by studying the morphological variability of generative individuals of the species. Our studies were carried out in natural populations in the Northern Tien Shan and introduced populations of the botanical garden and urban green areas of Almaty. These species showed a high degree of adaptation under the conditions of the introduction. Moreover, Gymnospermium altaicum , accidentally introduced into the urban green area of Bukhar Zhyrau Boulevard (Almaty), had formed a naturalized population that persisted for more than 8 years. The naturalized population of Tulipa tarda in the botanical garden (Almaty), introduced more than 20 years ago by one of the authors of this article, has been in existence even longer. In the latter case, individuals of seed origin showed higher adaptive capabilities than those transferred by the bulbs of generative plants.

Micropropagation of lavender: a protocol for production of plantlets

ABSTRACT Lavender (Lavandula dentata) has several medicinal applications, both in the fresh form and after industrial processing. Productivity increase could be obtained through the mass propagation, expanding the possibility of obtaining raw material for production of essential oil. The objective of this work was to develop a micropropagation protocol from explants obtained from seeds. Aspects of in vitro germination, multiplication, elongation and rooting were evaluated and, in sequence, the acclimatization process as well. The in vitro germination of lavender seeds can be obtained using a medium composed of agar and water. For multiplication, the use of MS medium (Murashige & Skoog, 1962) added with 5.0 µM 6-benzylaminopurine to the nutrient medium is the most appropriate. For elongation and rooting, the use of growth regulators is unnecessary. Acclimatization can be obtained directly by transferring the explant to plastic bags with substrate, kept in a greenhouse. It was possible to develop a protocol for the in vitro cultivation (establishment, multiplication, elongation, rooting and acclimatization) of lavender from explants of seed origin.

Kajian Budidaya Tanaman Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) di Kabupaten Pulang Pisau Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah

The objective of this research was to study of cultivation techniques palm oil independent farmers and social aspects to palm oil production. This research has conducted in In The Districk of Returning Knives from January 2021 until March 2021. The research was conducted using survey and the sampling used for this research purposive sampling. Consist of 60 sample, based on 10% level of representation. 30 sample drawn from Pangkoh Village and 30 sample drawn from Mandomai Village. The parameters studied were, land clearing, the origin of the seeds, size of planting holes, seed age, plant spacing, pruning, control of weeds and fertilization. The results show that the average production palm oil of farmers are still very low at less than 50% when compared to the average production of palm oil of PPKS Palangka Raya on mineral lands in general. The low production of palm oil cultivation techniques of farmers due to conducted as seed origin, plant spacing, pattern spacing, the size of the planting hole, transplanting seedlings into the ground, fertilizing, are still quite low level of the appropriate palm oil cultivation techniques application in the field.

Keanekaragaman Serangga Fitofag pada Sengon Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes dari Jawa dan Hawaii di Persemaian di Bogor

Albizia (Falcataria moluccana) cultivated in Indonesia for timber plantations can increase the farmer’s income, even though albizia became an invasive alien species that can cause the economic and ecological losses. The controlling of invasive species using biological control is an effective method. The purpose of this study was to determine the phytophagous insects on albizia from Java and Hawaii in seedling in Bogor. The experiment was conducted in Carangpulang, Dramaga, Bogor. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design using seed origin as a treatment (albizia Java and Hawaii) with 4 replicates. Total number of tree sample was 160 trees. Observations were conducted every 2 weeks until 32 weeks after planting. Identification of insects was conducted in the Laboratory of Insect Biosystematics, IPB. A total of 67 phytophagous insects were collected, 57 species in albizia from Java and 54 species in albizia from Hawaii. There was no difference in abundance and diversity of phytophagous insects on albizia from Java and Hawaii. Larvae of Eurema blanda (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) became an important pest causes leaf defoliation. Furthermore, Hulodes caranea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Margarodes sp. (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), Choristoneura sp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and Adoxophyes sp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) identified as important pests that have not been reported in the other research. Keywords: albizia, defoliator insect, Fabaceae, important pests, invasive alien species

Betula pendula Roth. natural regeneration in forest-steppe zone of Tatarstan Republic

A direct dependence of the birch coppice regeneration on the diameter of the tree trunk, felling age, forest growth conditions, seed regeneration, soil and climatic conditions and the degree of soil mineralization has been revealed. It was found that after the dying of a 30-year-old birch due to a drought in 2010, coppice shoots appeared in 10 % of the trees on the studied area. The reasons for vegetative regeneration have been determined, which mainly occurs by the degree of thickness in trees with a trunk diameter of up to 22 cm, or by the category of state in dead wood (70 % of the total number of coppice). The absence of seed birch undergrowth in drying birch plantations was found as a result of the tremendous soil ramping and the predominance of small-leaved lime, aspen undergrowth, Norway maple of seed origin, and seed origin oak, which requires tending. For successful birch seed regeneration under favorable climatic conditions, it is recommended to carry out soil mineralization of at least 50 % of the total area. When carrying out vegetative propagation, it is necessary to cut birch no older than 40 years, and in case of useful properties loss in birch forests over 71 years old in protective forests, we recommend the use of clear cutting but not selective cutting. Keywords: natural renewal, hanging birch, undergrowth, logging, Republic of Tatarstan

Individual and group parameters of Rumex alpinus L. (Polygonaceae) as an indicator of the degree of disturbance to the Carpathian highmountain meadow ecosystems

Individual (height of flowering shoot, length of rhizome segments and their number on a growth axis) and group parameters (cover, density of immature individuals, flowering and vegetative shoots) of a clonal tall-herb species Rumex alpinus were studied in the populations undergoing different stages of anthropogenic succession in the Carpathians. The species can form dense Rumiceta alpini ruderal communities on the manured soil near the livestock camps. Rumex alpinus has a long life span and thick long-living rhizomes in which the segments’ size reflects the viability of the individual in previous years. The studied parameters characterize the extent of disturbance in grassland ecosystems on different stages of their anthropogenic or restoration succession. A significant number of immature individuals of seed origin proves the young age of a population and indicates the degrading vector of changes in ecosystems. However, the individuals of seed origin (particularly, immature) are almost or completely missing in the established dense Rumiceta alpini because clonal reproduction prevails there. The highest individual and group parameters of R. alpinus have been registered in the sites that are manured. Cessation of anthropogenic impact results in thinning out of populations and their gradual decline. Annual increments of rhizomes demonstrate a successive increase in the invasive populations and decrease in the regressive ones. R. alpinus is also a component of some native undisturbed communities where it shows moderate viability of individuals and low population density. Thus, high values of individual and group parameters of this species indicate significant disturbance of the area and its low conservation value, while its infrequent occurrence only in some solitary small sites can reflect an absence or low level of devastation of a mountain grassland ecosystem. Keywords: anthropogenic impact, succession, rhizome segments, mountain meadows,Rumicetum alpini Вивчено індивідуальні (висоту генеративного пагона, довжину сегментів кореневища та їхню кількість на осі наростання) і групові параметри (проєктивне покриття,щільність імматурних особин, генеративних і вегетативних пагонів) клонального високотравного виду – Rumex alpinus у популяціях, що перебувають на різних стадіях антропогенної сукцесії в Карпатах. Цей вид здатний утворювати зімкнені рудеральні угруповання – щавельники (Rumiceta alpini) на угноєному ґрунті біля стійбищ худоби. Видові властивий тривалий онтогенез і наявність довговічних масивних кореневищ, у яких розмір сегментів відображає життєвість особини у минулі роки. Досліджені показники характеризують ступінь антропогенних змін у лучних екосистемах Карпат на різних етапах їх дигресивно-демутаційних перетворень. Значна кількість імматурних особин насіннєвого походження свідчить про молодий вік популяції і служить індикатором дигресивного спрямування змін в екосистемі. Натомість, у сформованих щільних щавельниках особини насіннєвого походження (зокрема імматурні) майже або цілком відсутні, оскільки у самовідновленні переважає вегетативне розмноження. Найвищі індивідуальні і групові параметри R. alpinus відзначено на площах, що зазнають підживлення гноївкою. Припинення господарського впливу призводить до розрідження популяцій та їх поступового згасання. В інвазійних популяціях відзначено послідовне збільшення річних приростів кореневищ, натомість у регресивних – їхнє скорочення. Rumex alpinus є також компонентом деяких корінних непорушених угруповань, де виявляє невисоку життєвість особин і низьку щільність популяцій. Отже, високі значення індивідуальних і групових показників цього виду є індикатором значного порушення території та її низької цінності з природоохоронної точки зору, натомість його нечасте трапляння лише на окремих невеликих ділянках може свідчити про відсутність або незначний ступінь девастації гірської лучної екосистеми. Ключові слова: антропогенний вплив, сукцесія, сегменти кореневища, гірські луки, Rumicetum alpini

Short-term cell death in tissues of Pulsatilla vernalis seeds from natural and ex situ conserved populations

Pulsatilla vernalis is a IUCN listed species that occurs in mountain and lowland habitats. The seeds collected from different populations are remarkably diverse in their viability depending on locality or year of collection. We aim to analyse seed viability, among others, by investigation of the percentage of alive, dying, and dead cells in embryos and endosperm when comparing the seeds from a wild lowland population and ex situ cultivation of plants of lowland and Alpine origin. The cell death was detected by staining with two fluorescence probes, one penetrating only the changed nuclear membranes, the other penetrating also the unchanged cells. 54.5% of Alpine origin seeds were presumably capable of germination if they were sown after collection, however, four months later only 36.4% had healthy embryos. In the case of lowland wild plants it was 31.8% and 18.2%, and from ex situ, 27.3% and 13.6%, respectively. 27.3% of Alpine origin seeds had embryo in torpedo stage (9.1% in the case of lowland seeds). Mean weight of the former was 2.9 mg (2.0 mg in lowland ones). Our results confirm the significance of seed origin and seed weight on viability, and that Pulsatilla seeds have a short ‘germination time window’.