Abstract
Biological invasions are occurring worldwide, causing enormous economic and ecological damage. Early detection and prediction of invasiveness are the most effective measures to reduce its damage. The Alexandra palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) is a prolific seeder and an alien species widely planted in tropical China. To help understand the invasion risks posed by this species, lab and field experiments on seed germination were conducted. Results show that the seeds only germinate within a temperature range of 20–30 °C and are sensitive to desiccation and high temperature, with seedling inhibition at 35 °C and −0.8 MPa. Complete viability loss was observed after desiccation to water content of 0.17–0.21 g/g or heat treatment for 30 minutes at 60 °C and above. However, appropriate habitats such as the rainforest understory, forest gaps, forest edges, and a rubber plantation are present in Xishuangbanna. Seeds are also frequently consumed by animals; therefore, there is a high potential for Alexandra palm to become an invasive species in Xishuangbanna. Currently, the main barrier to invasion in Xishuangbanna is likely to be the need for seed dispersal into suitable moist, partly shaded, habitats. Understanding the requirements for germination of the Alexandra palm can better inform management strategies for the control of this species.
Highlights
Every year, a large number of plant species spread across their natural dispersal barriers[1,2], most often caused by humans both intentionally and accidentally[3,4]
As seed production and germination is the sole mode for Alexandra palm to propagate, knowledge of its seed biology would be very useful for assessing its potential invasiveness
Alexandra palm seeds used in this study had a high initial viability their 100-seed weights varied from 49.74 ± 1.13 g to 56.57 ± 0.64 g, and initial water content ranged between 0.54 ± 0.03 g/g to 0.69 ± 0.02 g/g, depending on seed lots
Summary
A large number of plant species spread across their natural dispersal barriers[1,2], most often caused by humans both intentionally and accidentally[3,4]. Numerous alien plant species are deliberately planted in artificial habitats outside their native distribution areas, enriching our botanical resources, beautifying our landscapes, and improving our environment, whilst increasing the risk of biological invasion, according to the tens rule[5], i.e. the number of successful invasive species is positively related to that of introduced. Some of these imported alien plants escape cultivation to establish self-sustaining populations, colonize abandoned lands, enter agricultural fields, or invade natural ecosystems, posing a major threat to biodiversity and human livelihoods globally[6], resulting in tremendous economic and ecological loss[7,8]. This study conducted both lab and field experiments to investigate the survival and germination of Alexandra palm seeds under diverse conditions
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