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Ukrainian Journal of Ecology
UkrainianJournal of Ecology, 2018, 8(1), 153-157 doi: 10.15421/2018_200
ORIGINAL ARTICLE UDC 632.51
Seed production capability of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds in segetal and ruderal habitats
O.M. Kurdyukova
Institute of Plant Protection, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 33, Vasilkovskaya Str., Kiev, 03022, Ukraine E-mail: herbology8@gmail. com Submitted: 21.12.2017. Accepted:23.01.2018
The main cause of wide presence of weeds in segetal and ruderal habitats is their high seed production capacity. It defined in expressly establishing field experiments, in industrial sowings, in segetal and ruderal habitats of steppe zones of Ukraine. It is determined that average fruitfulness of weeds in ruderal habitats was larger, than in segetal habitats by 3.8 times, and indexes of the maximum fruitfulness - by 4.0 times and reached accordingly 7028 and 9345 pieces, and 20112 and 98337 pieces. In segetal habitats monocotyledonous species of weeds on seed production on conceded dicotyledonous species by 2.9-3.7 times, and on ruderal habitats - by 9.8-10.5 times. Average seed production of monocotyledonous plants made up accordingly 3594 and 5660, and dicotyledonous - 12417 and 55629 pieces of seeds from one plant. Most species of monocotyledonous weeds (56,1 %) formed on one plant from 1 to 10 thousand pieces of seeds, and dicotyledonous weeds (37,9 %) - more than 10 thousand pieces of seeds. In segetal habitats the maximum seed production had families Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae, and on ruderal habitats - Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae. The highest seed production the most widespread and abundant in sowings and on ruderal habitats had weeds: Convolvulus arvensis L., Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv., Eragrostis minor Host, Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl, Cirsium arvense(L.) Scop., Chenopodium album L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., etc. The greatest reserve weed seeds in soil in segetal habitats descended at the expense of species from genera Amaranthus, Galium, Cirsium, Setaria, and on ruderal habitats - Amaranthus, Chenopodium, Plantago, etc. In segetal habitats proof presence of weeds of genera with low seed production was sustained at the expense of their larger number of species, and genera with low number of species - at the expense of high seed production. In ruderal habitats - as at the expense of larger number of species, and their high seed production. The absolute maximum of seed production in segetal habitats have been reached at weeds of genera Amaranthus, Cirsium, Galium - from 3288 to 242266 pieces, and in ruderal habitats - Amaranthus, Chenopodium, Plantago - from 108903 to 1911683 pieces from one plant. Keywords: seed production; weeds; segetal; ruderal; taxonomic groups
Introduction
In the Steppe zone of Ukraine over 62.2 % of its territory is occupied by sowings of agricultural crops (Zubets et al., 2004). Numerous researches testify that segetal habitats have strong feed infestation by monocotyledonous species which part in weed communities fluctuated from 3.5 to 63.2 % and dicotyledonous species - which specific mass varied from 5 to 99 %. The quantity of shoots in sowings reached 0.25-3.20 thousand pieces/m2, and on ruderal habitats - 16-72 thousand piece/m2 (Kempen, Graf, 1981; Ivashchenko, 2001; Mertens, Jansen, 2002; Tsykov et al., 2012; Kurdyukova, 2013). Century efforts of the man to get rid of them in sowings do not bring expected results. Weeds remain, as before, constant companions of crop plants and nontreated lands.
The main cause of their wide presence at segetal habitats and on ruderal habitats is high seed production (Hosamini et al., 1971 ; Ivashchenko, 2001 ; Kurdyukova, 2015). It defines adaptability of the species to environmental conditions, character and rate of widening and range of various species of weed plants, composition and structure of phytocoenosis (plant association), a direction of successions in plant communities etc. (Schwerzel, 1970; Perron, Légère, 2000; Ivashchenko, 2001 ; Kosolap, 2004). The success of seed revegetation and constant presence of weeds at phytocoenosis is provided with enough of their seeds in soil. Entering of seeds in soil under the different data on 70-92 % was defined by level of seed production of weeds in the given field (Kosolap, 2004; Konoplia, Kurdyukova, 2013).
Therefore, last years the problem of seed production of weeds attracts attention and presented in various research (Mertens, Jansen, 2002; Konoplia, Litvinova, 2007; Lutman et al., 2008; Borona et al., 2009; Kosolap, 2011; Hill et al., 2014; Kurdyukova,
2014; 2015). However, there are not enough data available in literature on fruitfulness of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species of weeds in sowings and on ruderal habitats.
Materials and methods
Seed production of different weed species were recorded within 2007-2017 in segetal and ruderal habitats of Steppe zones of Ukraine. Samples of weeds in coenopopulations were covered all their morphological diversity. The area of record plots of seed production of small species or insignificant quantity of all weeds which were a part of community or synusia, made up from 16 to 100 m2, and at high density of generative individuals, and also neotenic and dwarf species (forms) - 0.25-1.0 m2, standing alone weeds with small frequency - 1.0-10 thousands m2. Record plots on the large areas were evaluated by their diagonal, by criss-cross pattern or by «envelope» method, placing them through equal spacing from each other, using for their separation special metal frameworks (at the area 0.25-1.0 m2) or special cords with pegs (at the area 10-100 m2).
We use actual quantity of seeds or fruits which were produced by one specimen of the plant for one generation as seed production size. Average seed production was defined as quotient from division of the sum of quantity of seeds from each record plant on number of registration plants among samples. Average minimum (maximum) seed production was determined as quotient from division of the sum of the least (greatest) quantity of seeds from one registration plant in each sampling series on total number of samplings. Absolute (minimum) maximum seed production - as the least (greatest) quantity of seeds from one registration plant, fixed ever during all long-term period of researches. Weeds and seeds classification was made in accordance with the standard field guides (Maisurian, Atabekova, 1978; Kosolap, 2011; Flora SSSR, 1934-1960).
Results
It has been determined that average fruitfulness of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed species in ruderal habitats was larger, than in segetal habitats by 3.8 times; indexes of the maximum fruitfulness - by 4.0 times and it was accordingly 7028 and 9345 pieces in segetal vs 20112 and 98337 pieces in ruderal habitats.
In sowings of agricultural crops, the monocotyledonous species of weeds on fruitfulness of one plant conceded to dicotyledonous in 2.9-3.7 times, and on ruderal habitats - in 9.8-10.5 times. However, the seed production difference of monocotyledonous weeds which occurred in sowings, in comparison with ruderal habitats was smaller, made up on average indexes of fruitfulness of 43.2 thousand pieces and reached in ruderal habitats 55629 pieces, and in segetal habitats it was only 12417 pieces. The same dependences were determined in relation to the minimum and maximum seed production (table 1).
Table 1. Seed production of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds in segetal and ruderal habitats, thousand seeds per plant
Segetal habitats Ruderal habitats
Classes of weeds --—---—--:--—---—--
Seed production species Seed production
species
minimum average maximum minimum average maximum
, , 5660±138
Monocotyledonous 20 2058 3594±464 7028 25 3005 9345
Dicotyledonous 138 7772 12417±943 20112 238 30586 55629±28 98337
Most species of monocotyledonous weeds (56.1 %) formed from 1 to 10 thousand seeds per plant. This were Apera spica-venti (L.) P. Beauv., Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. and S. verticillata (L.) P. Beauv., Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Avena sterilis subsp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Gillet & Magne etc.
A little smaller part (29.3 %) of monocotyledonous weeds formed on average up to 1 thousand pieces of grains per plant. This were Bromus tectorum L., B. secalinus L. and B. arvensis L., Avena fatua L., Hordeum murinum L., and Aegilops cylindrica Host. High seed production was typical only for species of monocotyledonous plants which had high stems - Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., Leymus racemosus (Lam.) Tzvelev, or they were well tillered and formed the considerable quantity of productive stems, in particular Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv., and Eragrostis minor Host. Among dicotyledonous weeds the quantity of species which formed up to 1 thousand seeds, was lesser in comparison with monocotyledonous and made up 21.7%. It was mainly early-spring ephemers and ephemeroids, in particular Veronica hederifolia L. and V. praecoxAll., Erodium cicutarium(L.) L'Her., Ceratocephala testiculata(Crantz) Roth, and Myosurusminimus L. The species ratio which formed from 1 to 10 thousand and over 10 thousand seeds per plant was almost equal - 37.9%. Among them there were such widely distributed and abundant in sowings and ruderal habitats species of weeds like Convolvulus arvensis L., Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Chenopodium album L., and Amaranthusretroflexus L.
Consequently, the monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds were characterized by the highest fruitfulness in ruderal ecotopes. Dicotyledonous species of weeds, irrespective of habitats exceeded the monocotyledonous species by 3.5-9.8 times concerning the seed production level. In segetal habitats specific mass of the most prolific dicotyledonous species from Asteraceaeand Lamiaceaewith average seed production more than 10 thousand pieces per plant, reached 39.2 %, whereas on ruderal habitats these and others high fruitful weeds occupied just 45.6 %. Seed production of representatives of
Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Boraginaceae with specific mass in segetal habitats of 17.1 %, and on ruderal habitats - 1.9 %, did not exceed 500 pieces.
The weeds of all dominant families of Dicotyledonous which occurred on ruderal habitats had more seed per plant than on segetal habitats - it were higher by 1.3-1.8 times (for families Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae), by 3.7-8.8 times (Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, and Caryophyllaceae), and even by 11.4-20.3 times (Boraginaceae, Apiaceae), whereas species of family Poaceae had more seed just by 1.75 times. So, Asteraceae weeds being the most species abundant formed on average 11.4 thousand seeds per plant in segetal more than 1000 thousand seed in ruderal habitats (this was 19.6 % and 19.4 % families respectively). The maximum fruitfulness was accordingly 20.7 and 176 thousand seeds per plant. Seed production of Asteraceae families, like Brassicaceae andChenopodiaceaewas similar (table 2)
Table 2. Seed production of weeds of dominant families on segetal and ruderal habitats, seeds per plant
Segetal habitats Ruderal habitats
Number of species Number
Families Seed production of Seed production
species
min average max min average max
Asteraceae 31 6668 11412±957 20701 51 55663 100292±7300 176349
Brassicaceae 15 6415 11025±1082 23068 20 19616 33601±2470 53617
Poaceae 20 2058 3594±548 7028 22 3381 6292±377 10370
Chenopodiaceae 11 9350 13018±869 18834 20 23241 47789±2842 82843
Lamiaceae 5 2852 11910±1170 34460 14 3267 15010±1334 34035
Fabaceae 12 209 496±42 875 13 751 2937±158 9126
Caryophyllaceae 7 3507 9086±169 22721 7 10782 41732±3016 138763
Boraginaceae 11 215 593±51 1303 14 2419 6781±455 9773
Apiaceae 3 1048 1768±123 2753 8 15918 35900±2021 54773
Euphorbiaceae 4 50 240±22 589 5 220 416±39 740
This variation was more larger in agricultural crops. So, the genera which included 4-5 species, formed on average from 111 (genus Vicia L.) to 1041 (genus Atriplex seeds per plant that explains their rather low frequency and low abundance in sowings. At the same time, the plants of Amaranthus L., Galium L., and Cirsium Mill. (which have 2-3 species) formed on average from 14 to 95 thousand seeds per plant and were usual weeds with the high abundance in agriculture fields. The maximum seed production of most weeds from dominant genera was from 5 to 25 thousand seeds, whereas the weeds from Amaranthushad over 100 thousand seeds and weeds of Vicia and Euphorbia- just about 1 thousand seeds (table 3).
Table 3. Seed production of weeds of the largest genera in segetal habitats, seeds per plant
Genus Quantity of species Minimum Average Maximum Absolutely maximum
Atriplex 5 1015 1041±83 2389 3149
Vicia 4 31 111±10 225 288
Euphorbia 4 50 240±16 589 604
Amaranthus 3 66131 94792±5192 141399 242266
Digitaria 3 918 2616±145 5835 9524
Setaria 3 1401 3196±230 5717 6976
Anthemis 3 3193 6155±408 10404 13050
Sonchus 2 1740 3890±223 8984 11029
Senecio 2 1115 2643±197 5500 7083
Cirsium 2 7764 14057±903 23340 32388
Galium 2 11177 17124±916 22934 34608
Lactuca 2 916 2260±134 4327 5096
We suggest that low seed production of some weed genera in segetal habitats was compensated by their high species number, and poor species diversity of some genera - by high seed production. The seed production of weeds was considerably higher in ruderal habitats and this was true for Euphorbia, Atriplex, Vicia(5 species), they have seed production by 1.7-4.1 times higher. The Fruitfulness of Chenopodium weeds (9 species) exceeded 786 thousand seeds per plant, Amaranthus (3 species) - 717 thousand seeds. The other genera had also high seed production, for instance, Plantago L. - 21.5 thousand of seeds, Carduus L. - 9.5 thousand of seeds, Lamium L.- 5.4 thousand, and Digitaria Hall. - 5.0 thousand of seeds (Table 4).
Table 4. Estimated numbers of seeds produced by the largest genera of weeds in ruderal habitats
Genus Quantity of species Lowest count Mean number of seeds per plant Highest count Absolutely maximum
Chenopodium 9 41283 78613±5400 115043 267444
Euphorbia 5 220 416±47 740 845
Atriplex 5 3015 4242±331 6645 9086
Vicia 5 119 282±29 1040 1916
Carduus 3 7039 9513±725 12125 14772
Veronica 3 340 553±52 1450 2155
Lamium 3 2443 5402±472 10703 17576
Xanthium 3 580 1259±79 2758 6053
Digitaria 3 3023 4994±506 8823 10000
Plantago 3 5538 21540±1890 81035 108903
Amaranthus 3 493855 17120±20136 1453846 1911683
The maximum fruitfulness of weeds of all genera, except for Euphorbia, exceeded 1 thousand seeds per plant; weeds of Plantago had 81.0 thousand seeds, Chenopodium- 115 thousand, and Amaranthus- 1454 thousand seed. The absolute maximum of seed production of weeds in segetal habitats did not exceed 32.3-34.6 thousand seeds (Cirsium, Galium), for Amaranthus this was 242.3 thousand seeds, whereas on ruderal habitats the fruitfulness of most weeds of exceeded 10 thousand seeds (Carduus, Lamium, and Digitaria), Chenopodium - 267.4 thousand, Plantago - 108.9 thousand, and Amaranthus - 1911 thousand seeds due to absence of the competition with cultivated plants.
Conclusions
The maximum seed production in the all habitats was formed by dicotyledonous species of weeds. In segetal habitats the highest seed production was registered for the families Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae, and Brassicaceae; in ruderal habitats -for Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Apiaceae. The greatest reserve of weeds in soil of segetal habitats caused by Amaranthus, Galium, Cirsium, Setaria, and Digitaria, and in ruderal habitats - by Amaranthus, Chenopodium, and Plantago plants.
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Citation:
Kurdyukova, O.M. (2018). Seed production capability of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds In segetal and ruderal habitats. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, ,5(1), 153-157. I This work Is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. License
