Reproductive capacity and seed germination after various storage of the invasive alien plant Amorpha fruticosa L. - a case study from Bratislava

Abstract

Amorpha fruticosa L. (Fabaceae) shows two reproductive modes, generative via seeds and vegetative via root-shoots. We studied the reproductive ability on a mixed sample collected from 6 localities in the city of Bratislava: compound fruiting per bush (12.55 ± 8.55), fruiting per bush (70.33 ± 48.04) and fruits per bush (16127.33 ± 24212.25). No significant difference was found between germination values from unpeeled fruits (achenes) and peeled fruits (seeds). Both seeds and fruits germinated very well both immediately after harvest and after storage under different temperature conditions. Peeled achenes germinated earlier. We stored seeds and fruits under different conditions, and found that the highest seed germination values were achieved by seeds stored in the dark at 22°C (60.00%) and by non-stored seeds (57.50%). The longest seedlings grew from seeds (8.48 mm) and from fruits (9.08 mm) stored at 22°C.