Plant Introduction Research Articles

Roads as conduits for alien plant introduction and dispersal: The amplifying role of road construction in Ambrosia trifida dispersal

The initial disruption caused by road construction, combined with ongoing vehicular traffic and regular road maintenance, can repeatedly disturb the environment in ways that favor introduced alien plants. We hypothesized that several characteristics of road construction influence the introduction of alien plants and analyzed 444 Environmental Impact Assessment reports for insights into the relationship between the progression of construction and alien plant richness. Additionally, we believed that roads enhance seed dispersal post-construction, and tested this using Ambrosia trifida patches on completed roads. In 41 construction sites, a total of 137 alien plant species were identified, with 120 introduced after the onset of construction. Significant correlations were found between alien plant richness and road characteristics, with wider roads experiencing more newly introduced species, while longer roads had more total alien plants. As construction progressed, the richness of alien plants generally increased, with around 88 % of sites showing this trend. Changes in alien plant composition during construction revealed a transition from perennial to annual dominance. Post-construction, we found that vehicles played a role in Ambrosia trifida seed dispersal, with seeds predominantly dispersing in the direction of traffic. This study provides information on alien plant species that are commonly introduced and rapidly dispersed due to road construction. Overall, we showed that road construction and subsequent vehicle traffic are primary factors in the spread of alien plants, necessitating early management measures during construction to prevent their proliferation.

The ability to naturalize of the species from the collection “Rare and endangered plant species of Siberia”

Phytoinvasions can significantly affect the functioning of natural ecosystems. Naturalization of species is the first stage of invasions. Plant introduction is a potential threat to natural ecosystems. The introduction of plants of rare and endangered species is aimed at preserving the biodiversity of the flora, and differs from the cultivation of plants having obvious economic value. The purpose of this study is to determine the species composition of plants on the territory of the collection site ”Rare and endangered plant species of Siberia”, where agrotechnical measures have not been carried out for 20 years. The mosaic of vegetation cover with the introduction of native species was established. 193 species have been identified, of which 55 species are introduced. The restoration of populations of 11 species missing from the collection in 2000 was noted. A 6-point scale for assessing the ability to naturalize introduced species was developed. The analysis of the current species composition showed that 37 species of introduced species (46 %) have disappeared from this territory since 2000. Of the identified introducers, 12 % species are decreasing their numbers, 19 % occupy within the area of cultivation earlier, 23 % of the species spread throughout the territory to varying degrees. At the same time, the ability to naturalize turned out to be unrelated to the type of reproduction of the introduced species. Half of the introducers have adapted to the new environmental conditions, and have gained a foothold in a new ecological niche.

Introduction of rare woody plants in the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The Arboretum of the Botanical Garden of the Komi Institute of Biology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the northernmost in Russia, which contains more than 500 taxa of woody plants, including 14 rare and endangered species of various categories and protection status. Six of them need regional protection (Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Ulmus laevis, Pinus sibirica, Tilia cordata, Cotoneaster cinnabarinus, Cotoneaster melanocarpus), the rest are in state protection (Euonymus nana, Cotoneaster cinnabarinus, Cotoneaster lucidus, Staphylea colchica, Juglans ailanthifolia, Rhododendron fauriei, Picea glehnii, Taxus baccata, Microbiota decussata) The largest number plants included in the Red Book of the Komi Republic (2019), characterized by a wide ecological amplitude, have been studied more and more. Attraction to the collection of rare woody plants of the Red Book of Russia is limited by harsh climatic conditions. Ten species of plants of state protection are represented by single specimens and are only maintained in the collection. Winter hardiness of plants is determined every season and phenological observations are carried out. Conservation and attraction of rare plant species to the collection in the conditions of the Komi Republic should become an integral part of the biodiversity conservation strategy.

Advantages of greenery in hospital environment - a literature review

Abstract Background: Incorporating greenery into hospital environment contributes to the sustainable development goals by mitigating health, environmental and economic problems. Despite the increasing interest in plants, gardens and green roofs in general built environments, the benefits of greenery in hospital environment are still under-researched. The aim of this review was to summarize the relevant literature and describe the benefits of greenery in hospital environment. Methods: The PubMed, Springer Link and CINAHL databases were searched to identify relevant studies and articles published between 2012 and 2023. The keywords used were hospitals, greenery, green systems, vegetation, and room plants. The language restriction was that articles were published in English. Results: Following the PRISMA methodology, seven eligible studies were included in the literature review. Evidence shows that the presence of greenery affects patient health outcomes and the well-being of healthcare staff. Moreover, the healing and therapeutic effects greenery in the hospital environment have been identified. Greenery also has a positive psychological effect on healthcare workers and visitors. Humanizing healthcare spaces and connecting them with nature empowers patients, reduces stress and pain, and improves emotional well-being. Conclusion: The biophilic design concept increases occupant connectivity to the natural environment through vegetation at the location, including implemented green building envelope systems (green walls and roofs) and the introduction of indoor plants. It should be incorporated into the established steps of hospital design. In summary, more research is needed, particularly on the potential impact of plants on hospital-acquired infections.

Local Wastewater Treatment Plants and Their Role in the Circular Economy

The realization that we are highly dependent on the increasingly limited water resources and the opportunity offered by the circular economy for the reversibility of this important resource become a matter of personal and societal growth. The use of wastewater treatment plants has been proven to bring with it positives for both the environment and water, as well as for human health. The introduction of local waste water treatment plants in small agglomerations is the nowadays step towards a better and ecological environment, and in addition it leads to financial savings achieved by the low subsequent costs.

Naturalizations have led to homogenization of the Malesian flora in the Anthropocene

AbstractAimWorldwide, floras are becoming homogenized at global scales, but regional patterns vary. Here, we present the first assessment for the Malesian phytogeographical region in terms of the timing of introductions, direction, magnitude and drivers of floristic change due to alien plant naturalizations.LocationMalesian phytogeographic region, including Southeast Asia and the Pacific.TaxonTracheophyta (vascular plants).MethodsWe compiled data on first records of naturalized plants in Malesia to investigate temporal trends in the rate and origin of introductions. We then calculated β‐diversity (including turnover and nestedness) for the native, naturalized and Anthropocene (native + naturalized) floras for each pair of island groups (36 pairs), and a homogenization index for the native and Anthropocene floras, using presence/absence data for 31,580 plant species. Mantel tests were used to investigate the geographic, climatic and anthropogenic correlates of dissimilarity and homogenization.ResultsAround 75% of all naturalized species documented to date were already reported for the first time within Malesia prior to 1950. This has led to homogenization between the historic (native) and contemporary (Anthropocene) floras for all island group pairs. Turnover was the most important process for driving compositional dissimilarity between island groups in Malesia in the native and Anthropocene floras, but homogenization resulted from decreases in nestedness and turnover. Differences in average taxonomic homogenization for island groups were associated with differences in their level of anthropogenic modification.Main ConclusionsThis study improves current understanding of the direction and drivers of floristic homogenization in one of the world's most diverse tropical regions. Alien plant introductions carry a long historical legacy in Malesia, and naturalizations of these plants have led to overall taxonomic homogenization of the region's flora. Expected increases in the magnitude of human modification, without appropriate policy, will likely lead to further reductions in the floristic uniqueness of island groups.

Changes in Competitors, Stress Tolerators, and Ruderals (CSR) Ecological Strategies after the Introduction of Shrubs and Trees in Disturbed Semiarid Steppe Grasslands in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia.

To reveal the changes in the life history characteristics of grassland plants due to vegetation restoration, plant species and communities were analyzed for their competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal (CSR) ecological strategies after the introduction of woody plants in the damaged steppe grassland and were compared with those in reference sites in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia. As a result, it was found that the introduction of the woody plants (Corethrodeneron fruticosum, Caragana microphylla, Populus canadensis, and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) into the damaged land greatly increased the plant species diversity and CSR eco-functional diversity as the succession progressed. The plant strategies of the temperate typical steppe (TTS) and woodland steppe (WS) in this Asian steppe are CSR and S/SR, respectively, which means that the plants are adapted to disturbances or stress. As the restoration time elapsed in the damaged lands exhibiting (R/CR) (Corispermum hyssopifolium), the ecological strategies were predicted to change in two ways: (1) →R/CSR (Cynanchum thesioides, Astragalus laxmannii, etc.) → CSR in places (TSS) (Galium verum var. asiaticum, Saussurea japonica, etc.) where only shrubs were introduced, and (2) → S/SR (Allium mongolicum, Ulmus pumila, etc.) → S/SR in sites (WS) (Ulmus pumila, Thalictrum squarrosum, etc.) where trees and shrubs were planted simultaneously. The results mean that the driving force that causes succession in the restoration of temperate grasslands is determined by the life-form (trees/shrubs) of the introduced woody plants. This means that for the restoration of these grasslands to be successful, it is necessary to introduce woody tree species at an early stage.

The Alien Flora of Australia (AFA), a unified Australian national dataset on plant invasion

Biological invasions are a major threat to Australia. Information on alien flora in Australia is collated independently by different jurisdictions, which has led to inconsistencies at the national level, hampering efficient management. To harmonise different information sources, we present the Alien Flora of Australia (AFA), a nationally unified dataset. To create the AFA, we developed an R script that compares existing data sources (the Australian Plant Census and state and territory censuses), identifies mismatches among them and integrates the information into unified invasion statuses at the national scale. The AFA follows the taxonomy and nomenclature adopted for the Australian Plant Census, introduction status and impact of plants known to occur in Australia. The up-to-date information presented in this dataset can aid early warning of alien species invasions, facilitate decision-making at different levels, and biosecurity at national scale. The associated script is ready to be implemented into new versions of the AFA with updated releases of any of the data sources, streamlining future efforts to track of alien flora across Australia.

Establishing peat-forming plant communities: A comparison of wetland reclamation methods in Alberta's oil sands region.

The Sandhill Wetland (SW) and Nikanotee Fen (NF) are two wetland research projects designed to test the viability of peatland reclamation in the Alberta oil sands post-mining landscape. To identify effective approaches for establishing peat-forming vegetation in reclaimed wetlands, we evaluated how plant introduction approaches and water level gradients influence species distribution, plant community development, and the establishment of bryophyte and peatland species richness and cover. Plant introduction approaches included seeding with a Carex aquatilis-dominated seed mix, planting C. aquatilis and Juncus balticus seedlings, and spreading a harvested moss layer transfer. Establishment was assessed 6 years after the introduction at SW and 5 years after the introduction at NF. In total, 51 species were introduced to the reclaimed wetlands, and 122 species were observed after 5 and 6 years. The most abundant species in both reclaimed wetlands was C. aquatilis, which produced dense canopies and occupied the largest water level range of observed plants. Introducing C. aquatilis also helped to exclude marsh plants such as Typha latifolia that has little to no peat accumulation potential. Juncus balticus persisted where the water table was lower and encouraged the formation of a diverse peatland community and facilitated bryophyte establishment. Various bryophytes colonized suitable areas, but the moss layer transfer increased the cover of desirable peat-forming mosses. Communities with the highest bryophyte and peatland species richness and cover (averaging 9 and 14 species, and 50%-160% cover respectively) occurred where the summer water level was between -10 and -40 cm. Outside this water level range, a marsh community of Typha latifolia dominated in standing water and a wet meadow upland community of Calamagrostis canadensis and woody species established where the water table was deeper. Overall, the two wetland reclamation projects demonstrated that establishing peat-forming vascular plants and bryophytes is possible, and community formation is dependent upon water level and plant introduction approaches. Future projects should aim to create microtopography with water tables within 40 cm of the surface and introduce vascular plants such as J. balticus that facilitate bryophyte establishment and support the development of a diverse peatland plant community.

Botanical Composition and Forage Quality as Swamp Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Feed In Jembrana Regency, Bali Province– Indonesia

This study aimed to study the botanical composition and feed quality for swamp buffalo in Jembrana Regency, province of Bali - Indonesia. Research using the survey method use samples obtained by proportional stratified sampling for the five districts in Jembrana Regency. Measuring the production and botanical composition of forage was carried out by using the square in the “Actual Weight Estimate” method. Chemical analysis of the feed carried out at the Laboratory of Nutrition and Animal Feed Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Udayana. The results showed that the botanical composition of forage for swamp buffalo consisted of Brachiaria reptans, Panikum repen, Lercia Hexandra, Cynodon dactylon, Ischainum sp, Digitaria sp, Alysicarpus vaginalis, and weed. Only Alysicarpus vaginalis as leguminous plants have been detected. The crude protein content of the ration was quite high, namely 12.94% with a digestibility of 66.73%. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the botanical composition of forage for swamp buffalo in Jembrana Regency is quite diverse with good quality. Leguminous plant introduction needs to be done to improve feed quality.

Soybean-SCN Battle: Novel Insight into Soybean's Defense Strategies against Heterodera glycines.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines, Ichinohe) poses a significant threat to global soybean production, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of soybean plants' response to SCN to ensure effective management practices. In this study, we conducted dual RNA-seq analysis on SCN-resistant Plant Introduction (PI) 437654, 548402, and 88788 as well as a susceptible line (Lee 74) under exposure to SCN HG type 1.2.5.7. We aimed to elucidate resistant mechanisms in soybean and identify SCN virulence genes contributing to resistance breakdown. Transcriptomic and pathway analyses identified the phenylpropanoid, MAPK signaling, plant hormone signal transduction, and secondary metabolite pathways as key players in resistance mechanisms. Notably, PI 437654 exhibited complete resistance and displayed distinctive gene expression related to cell wall strengthening, oxidative enzymes, ROS scavengers, and Ca2+ sensors governing salicylic acid biosynthesis. Additionally, host studies with varying immunity levels and a susceptible line shed light on SCN pathogenesis and its modulation of virulence genes to evade host immunity. These novel findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying soybean-SCN interactions and offer potential targets for nematode disease management.

14,000 years of climatic and anthropogenic change in the Afromontane forest of São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea

São Tomé (Gulf of Guinea, Central Africa) is a 854 km2 tropical island that had a pivotal role in early European colonial expansion through the Atlantic between the 15th and 16th centuries. Historical sources suggest that native vegetation has been heavily impacted since human arrival (1470 CE) due to monoculture economies and the introduction of mammals and plants, some of which now have established wild populations. The Afromontane forest of São Tomé, located above 800 m.a.sl., is particularly rich in endemic plant species and has remained relatively unaffected by direct human impacts. Here, we explore how environmental change influenced this forest through the study of a sedimentary sequence from the volcanic crater of Lagoa Amélia (1340 m a.s.l.), a palustrine system located at the boundary between submontane (800–1400 m a.s.l.) and mist forest (above 1400 m a.s.l.). We used fossil pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, sedimentology and charcoal to determine forest dynamics from the Late Pleistocene to the present. From 14,000 to 12,500 cal yr BP the forest was dominated by taxa from higher altitudes, adapted to cooler and drier climates (e.g. Afrocarpus mannii trees and Psychotria nubicola). After 12,500 cal yr BP, a potential uphill migration was identified by an increase in taxa like the trees Symphonia globulifera and Craterispermum cerinanthum. From 11,200 cal yr BP through the rest of the Holocene taxa from lower altitudes became dominant (e.g. Prunus africana, Polyscias, and Sabicea), except at c. 8500 cal yr BP when rapid cooling led to forest opening. Charcoal showed that fires were frequent during the Late Pleistocene (14,000 to 11,200 cal yr BP), becoming rare during the Holocene until anthropogenic fires started at c. 220 cal yr BP. Other recent anthropogenic impacts detected in Lagoa Amélia included the appearance of pollen of introduced plant species (e.g., Cestrum), and the increase in pollen of economically important species (Elaeis guineensis, Zea mays) and in fungal spores related to introduced herbivores. Our results reveal that climate changed the altitudinal distribution of the Afromontane forest in São Tomé during the Late Pleistocene, as observed on the African continent, and that this ecosystem was also strongly impacted by human arrival, through fire, farming, and introduced species.

PROSPECTS OF CREATING «GREEN STRUCTURES» IN THE DESIGN OF THE CLOSED ENVIRONMENT

The article presents scientific and experimental studies on the study of the prospects of creating "green structures" for the design of a closed environment when landscaping the interiors of special purpose objects - halls and lobbies of educational institutions. The ecological and decorative value of ornamental plants for modern landscaping has been proven. An analysis of literary sources was carried out and information about decorative plants used in the creation of vertical landscaping objects was summarized. On the basis of the obtained data, the scientific foundations of the introduction of promising plant species into the culture and the peculiarities of the organization of space in the interior were developed. It was determined that today phytodesign requires a scientifically based introduction of plants into the interior, which should create an aesthetic and comfortable environment for people. In addition, the action of plants should be aimed at disinfecting indoor air from pathogenic microflora, cleaning the air space from industrial dust and gas. It has been proven that for the creation of modern garden compositions in a closed environment, it is most appropriate to use such groups of plants as basic aggregates (golden epipremnum, ivy philodendron); green accents (monstera delicatesna) and blooming accents (anthurium andre). Their high evaluation according to a set of criteria indicates the perspective and suitability for growing in a closed environment, as well as the value for various options of use: compositions, potted culture, greening of living walls, phytomodules, structures for vertical gardening, accent, solitaire. It is the expansion of the range of plants for vertical gardening using the methods of "green constructions" that will make it more accessible. It was noted that the possibility of implementing an ecological and aesthetic way of improving the population will attract the attention of specialists who design buildings for various purposes.

New crops in the 1st millennium ce in northern Italy

AbstractIn order to identify new crops in the 1st millennium ce in northern Italy, a complex and diversified territory, archaeobotanical macroremains from 155 sites dating between the 2nd century bce and 12th century ce were analysed. In more than half of the sites, taxa were encountered that had never previously been recorded from the area. The new crops are about 30, mainly (~ 70%) fruit plants in the broad sense, which have a clear peak in this time period. Based on the available data, the most prominent time for the introduction of new food plants (both imports and cultivars) seems to have been the Roman Imperial period (1st–2nd century ce), but also later, in Late Antiquity (3rd–6th century ce) and the Middle Ages (7th–12 century ce), there was no lack of new arrivals. Some fruit trees, such as Prunus persica (peach) and Pinus pinea (stone pine) immediately played an important role, and have continued to do so over time, as these are still grown in the area now.

Changes in the functional and phylogenetic diversity of above- and below-ground plant communities invaded by two alien herbs

Introduced plants can have long-lasting and irreversible effects on the communities and ecosystems they invade. A critical step towards understanding the legacy of plant introductions is the characterisation of changes in the invaded plant communities and how these changes are related to biogeochemical modifications. Here, we addressed this issue by comparing the impacts of two large invasive herbs, Gunnera tinctoria and Impatiens glandulifera, on the compositional, functional, and phylogenetic structure of the standing vegetation (above-ground communities) and the soil seed bank (below-ground communities). The introduction of both invasive species was associated with a significant decrease in above-ground species richness, with subsequent changes in the functional diversity and phylogenetic dispersion of the vegetation. Yet, these invaders differed in their long-term impacts and the reversibility of any modifications they caused. While G. tinctoria invasions resulted in phylogenetically clustered communities (both above- and below-ground) that were clearly distinct from uninvaded ones, seed bank communities invaded by I. glandulifera were indistinguishable from uninvaded ones, despite major compositional changes above-ground. Further, we found alterations in nutrient cycling associated with G. tinctoria invasions that could facilitate its local persistence and exacerbate any negative effects on native diversity. Our findings suggest a high susceptibility of pre-invasion above-ground communities to colonisation by distantly related herbs. However, the seed banks showed a degree of resilience against both invaders, with no major differences in species richness. Ultimately, differences in the impacts of these large invasive herbs suggest that dominance in the vegetation and a large stature are poor predictors of long-term plant community changes, including regeneration potential from seed, which are associated with plant introductions.

The poleward naturalization of intracontinental alien plants.

Plant introductions outside their native ranges by humans have led to substantial ecological consequences. While we have gained considerable knowledge about intercontinental introductions, the distribution and determinants of intracontinental aliens remain poorly understood. Here, we studied naturalized (i.e., self-sustaining) intracontinental aliens using native and alien floras of 243 mainland regions in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. We revealed that 4510 plant species had intracontinental origins, accounting for 3.9% of all plant species and 56.7% of all naturalized species in these continents. In North America and Europe, the numbers of intracontinental aliens peaked at mid-latitudes, while the proportion peaked at high latitudes in Europe. Notably, we found predominant poleward naturalization, primarily due to larger native species pools in low-latitudes. Geographic and climatic distances constrained the naturalization of intracontinental aliens in Australia, Europe, and North America, but not in South America. These findings suggest that poleward naturalizations will accelerate, as high latitudes become suitable for more plant species due to climate change.

The economic potential of enhanced method of anaerobic fermentation with green ammonia production for European energy market

This scientific paper provides an analysis of the current state of biogas production and potential for improvement through optimizing biogas production and diversifying production. The analysis uses data from open sources and reports, such as EBA’s Statistical Report and analytical reports on market and digestate analysis. The authors present a comparison of electricity costs and biogas plant distribution in Europe, confirming that the higher the cost of electricity, the more widespread the introduction of biogas plants as an alternative energy source. The paper also discusses the potential of green ammonia production during anaerobic digestion, which can increase the efficiency and sustainability of biogas production technologies. The innovative technology of ammonia production from livestock waste during anaerobic treatment reduces the amount of water needed for dilution and transforms dissolved ammonia, which is toxic for anaerobic fermentation, into a useful final product. The paper highlights the potential for economically attractive approaches that use existing infrastructure and can contribute to energy independence and sustainability. The authors conclude that optimization in terms of more optimal process conditions and diversification of production approaches can increase the sustainability of biogas production technologies and ensure broader use.

Neural network model of investment process of biogas production

The paper forms a neural network model of the investment process of biogas production, which allows increasing the efficiency of the management decision-making process on the feasibility of investing in biogas plants. Biogas plants are becoming widespread in the world, although natural climatic conditions are not favorable for biogas production. But modern technological solutions for insulation of bioreactors, their automation and thermal stabilization, allow obtaining biogas in different latitudes. The construction of biogas plants requires significant capital investment. Therefore, these investments require a detailed feasibility study, including consideration of both technical and economic aspects of biogas production. The authors propose to use the mathematical apparatus of shallow neural networks and create a ten-neuron shallow neural mathematical model with the MATLAB mathematical package, which can serve as a tool to support investment decisions in the implementation of the biogas plant project. The proposed model, in contrast to existing approaches, allows us to take into account both quantitative and qualitative factors, which are obtained analytically, expertly and experimentally. In addition, the proposed model allows combining both economic and technical criteria that affect the decision-making process for investing in the process of biogas production. The calculation of investment attractiveness of introduction of biogas utilization unit for the researched enterprise is given. According to the simulation results, it is determined that the investment attractiveness of the introduction of a biogas plant for the given set of input factors indicates the feasibility of implementing a biogas plant.

Mengenal Pertanian Sejak Dini Pada PAUD Mutiara Hati Palm Spring Keluharan Jambangan Surabaya

Agricultural education at an early age is very important because considering that today's children tend to be minimal, therefore learning about agriculture starts from around the world in order to produce capable farmers and become professional experts in the field of agriculture. The introduction of agricultural education must be implemented from an early age in children, so that it creates a love for the surrounding environment. One of them is using the school yard to always look beautiful, beautiful and attractive by cultivating various kinds of horticultural and other commodities. One of them is the introduction of vegetable plants, which aims to increase students' awareness of the environment by providing illustrations of the impact of planting on the environment. The results of this service have had a positive impact on PAUD Mutiara Hati Palm Spring students, providing additional knowledge on how to cultivate vegetables.

Seed germination of four amaranth species (Amaranthus spp.)

Amaranthus (Amaranthus spp.) is a species of great importance that benefits human and animal nutrition; therefore, its reproduction must be based on useful information obtained from rigorous experiments. Consequently, the aim of this work was to determine the germination of 20 accessions from four Amaranthus spp. The work was carried out at the Instituto Tecnológico de Chiná, Campeche, Mexico, using seeds from Africa, Asia, Greece, South America, the US, and Mexico, donated by The North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS), Iowa State University. After they were weighed and measured, the seeds were placed in Petri dishes and kept in the dark inside a germination chamber, at 27 ºC and with a 54% relative humidity. Germinated seeds were counted and removed every 24 hours. The analyses were carried out using the ANOVA test in order to identify weight, length, and germination differences between accessions. The results showed no statistical differences in seed length, neither between species nor accessions; however, there were statistical differences in the weight, both between species and between accessions. A. hypochondriacus from India recorded the highest weight (0.00093 ± 0.000075 g). Regarding germination, there were statistical differences between the various evaluation periods (24 and 48 hours): the highest germination was recorded by A. hypochondriacus and A cruentus. Therefore, the following conclusion was reached: seed germination is different between species and accessions.