Responses of different invasive and non-invasive ornamental plants to water stress during seed germination and vegetative growth.

ABSTRACT: Biological invasions represent a major threat to natural ecosystems. A primary source of invasive plants is ornamental horticulture, which selects traits related to invasiveness. This study evaluated the responses to water stress during germination and vegetative growth of six species used as ornamental or medicinal plants. Three of them are recognised as invasive weeds in many world areas. Seeds were exposed to increasing concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) mimicking drought stress, and young plants in the vegetative growth stage were subjected to two levels of water stress. Results indicated that in the absence of stress in control conditions, the most competitive species were those reported as weeds, namely Bidens pilosa L., Oenothera biennis L., and Centaurea cyanus L., the las

SUBMITTER: Mircea DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10432408 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature