Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact of exogenous gibberellin on fleshy fruit formation, but the effect on dry fruits is not yet well known. To test the role of gibberellin (GA3) in dry fruit formation, we analysed the impact of exogenous GA3 on the invasive plant Sosnowsky’s hogweed (H. sosnowskyi Manden.) seed development and germination. Treatment of GA3 concentrations of 0.07 mM, 0.14 mM, 0.28 mM, 0.43 mM was applied to flowers at the early stage of development. Seeds were collected from treated satellite umbels. It was observed that GA3treatment did not have a significant effect on the size of H. sosnowskyi seeds, but caused various changes in their shape. The data on semi-thin longitudinal sections of H. sosnowskyi mericarps and SEM micrographs of embryos showed that the embryos in GA3 (0.43 mM) treated variants were at torpedo stage, while in control variants—mature embryos. The germination of seeds of each variant was estimated by burying them in the soil. Our studies indicated that GA3 application reduced the germination of H. sosnowskyi seed from 98.0% (control) to 16.5% (GA3 concentration 0.43 mM). It was assumed that exogenous application of GA3 had influence on the development of dry Sosnowsky’s hogweed seeds and could be used to inhibit the spread of this invasive plant.
Highlights
Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) is an invasive alien herbaceous monocarpic, perennial, seed-propagated plant
To determine whether there were any morphological effects, H. sosnowskyi seeds treated with GA3 at concentration of 0.07 mM, 0.14 mM, 0.28 mM, 0.43 mM were compared with a control variant
Our results showed that gibberellin GA3 application had effect on H. sosnowskyi seed embryo formation, too
Summary
Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) is an invasive alien herbaceous monocarpic, perennial, seed-propagated plant. In Europe, it has rapidly established in a variety of seminatural and man-made ecosystems, in spaces along water basins, forest edges, roadsides, meadows, open forests and unmanaged urban areas (Gudžinskas & Rašomavičius, 2005; Kabuce & Priede, 2010; Baležentiene, Stankevičiene & Snieškiene, 2013). It can cause considerable economic damage, sometimes presenting a health hazard to humans.
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