Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>

<i>Phytolacca americana</i> and <i>P. acinosa</i> are alien plant species in Europe. The former is considered invasive and more widespread. In order to develop effective and safe eradication and plant disposal methods, the present research focused on the seed germination of t...

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Main Authors: Simona Strgulc Krajšek, Aleš Kladnik, Sara Skočir, Martina Bačič
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/5/1052
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author Simona Strgulc Krajšek
Aleš Kladnik
Sara Skočir
Martina Bačič
author_facet Simona Strgulc Krajšek
Aleš Kladnik
Sara Skočir
Martina Bačič
author_sort Simona Strgulc Krajšek
collection DOAJ
description <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and <i>P. acinosa</i> are alien plant species in Europe. The former is considered invasive and more widespread. In order to develop effective and safe eradication and plant disposal methods, the present research focused on the seed germination of the two species. Fruits of different ripeness of both species were collected (fresh and dry seeds within and without pericarp), after which both the germination and maturation were tested. We also tested the continued maturing of fruits on cut plants and observed the development of fruits on whole plants with a cut taproot (in addition to when only the upper part of the stem with fruit racemes was cut off). In general, the seeds germinated from all stages of fruit ripeness, although the germination of dry seeds was better compared to fresh seeds. <i>P. americana</i>’s seeds germinated better and the fruit ripening on cut plants was also more successful compared to <i>P. acinosa</i>. These results could partly explain the invasive success of <i>P. americana</i>. According to our results, removing all fruiting plants from the eradication site is crucial regardless of the fruit development stage.
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spelling doaj.art-b9bded010f5748cdb4fe7706da6bbcf72023-11-17T08:23:29ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-02-01125105210.3390/plants12051052Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>Simona Strgulc Krajšek0Aleš Kladnik1Sara Skočir2Martina Bačič3Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia<i>Phytolacca americana</i> and <i>P. acinosa</i> are alien plant species in Europe. The former is considered invasive and more widespread. In order to develop effective and safe eradication and plant disposal methods, the present research focused on the seed germination of the two species. Fruits of different ripeness of both species were collected (fresh and dry seeds within and without pericarp), after which both the germination and maturation were tested. We also tested the continued maturing of fruits on cut plants and observed the development of fruits on whole plants with a cut taproot (in addition to when only the upper part of the stem with fruit racemes was cut off). In general, the seeds germinated from all stages of fruit ripeness, although the germination of dry seeds was better compared to fresh seeds. <i>P. americana</i>’s seeds germinated better and the fruit ripening on cut plants was also more successful compared to <i>P. acinosa</i>. These results could partly explain the invasive success of <i>P. americana</i>. According to our results, removing all fruiting plants from the eradication site is crucial regardless of the fruit development stage.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/5/1052<i>Phytolacca americana</i><i>Phytolacca acinosa</i>pokeweedinvasive plant speciesseed viabilityfruit ripening
spellingShingle Simona Strgulc Krajšek
Aleš Kladnik
Sara Skočir
Martina Bačič
Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>
Plants
<i>Phytolacca americana</i>
<i>Phytolacca acinosa</i>
pokeweed
invasive plant species
seed viability
fruit ripening
title Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>
title_full Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>
title_fullStr Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>
title_full_unstemmed Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>
title_short Seed Germination of Invasive <i>Phytolacca americana</i> and Potentially Invasive <i>P. acinosa</i>
title_sort seed germination of invasive i phytolacca americana i and potentially invasive i p acinosa i
topic <i>Phytolacca americana</i>
<i>Phytolacca acinosa</i>
pokeweed
invasive plant species
seed viability
fruit ripening
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/5/1052
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AT aleskladnik seedgerminationofinvasiveiphytolaccaamericanaiandpotentiallyinvasiveipacinosai
AT saraskocir seedgerminationofinvasiveiphytolaccaamericanaiandpotentiallyinvasiveipacinosai
AT martinabacic seedgerminationofinvasiveiphytolaccaamericanaiandpotentiallyinvasiveipacinosai