Climate factors influence on biological features of Crataegus maximowiczii C.K. Schneid. when introduced within the arctic circle

Abstract

This study evaluates the development of Crataegus maximowiczii when introduced to the Kola Peninsula. The paper presents the timing of the onset of phenological phases, morphometric indicators of inflorescences and flowers, fruits, features of seed reproduction. C. maximowiczii is a plant with an early onset and short growing season. C. maximowiczii has a short shoot growth period, a short prefloral period, annual flowering and fruiting. The studied specimens of C. maximowiczii plants were characterized by heterogeneous morphometric parameters of flowers and inflorescences. Specimens with a denser inflorescence are characterized by a greater number of flowers per inflorescence, specimens with small flower sizes form medium-sized inflorescences. The species specificity factor affects the morphometric characteristics of inflorescences. Fruiting indicators largely depended on external conditions, among which temperature and relative humidity of the air have little effect. Plants of C. maximowiczii, when introduced to the Kola Peninsula, can be classified as small-fruited. The highest germination capacity is possessed by the samples with average values of mass, which have undergone combined pre-sowing preparation. The relative humidity of the air during the growing season has a greater effect than the temperature regime on the values of the mass of seeds for a given species under conditions of introduction.