Abstract Detail

Ecology

Serota, Tziporah [1], Culley, Theresa [2].

Seed Germination and Seedling Survival of Invasive Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne.) 11 Years After Fruit Collection.

Recently, Pyrus calleryana has gained a reputation within the ecological community for its aggressive ability to invade open fields as it forms dense monocultures. This occurs following bird dispersal of seed formed by cross-pollination among genetically different ornamental cultivars and rootstock. Perhaps even more alarming is evidence that P. calleryana has started to invade forested areas, with the potential of causing ecological damage to forested ecosystems within the Midwest United States. To understand the extent of damage and the associated implications for removal and control, we began by studying the longterm seed viability of P. calleryana, a characteristic shared by many invasive plants that often leads to the formation of seed banks in invaded sites. To test this species’ long-term seed viability, we compared the rate of seed germination and seedling survival collected fresh in 2006 with those kept in cold storage for 11 years. To accomplish this, seeds were extracted by cracking open the hard endocarp with vise grips both in 2006 and in 2017, placed under refrigerated conditions to mimic cold stratification, and placed in soil once radicals emerged. We also measured the viability of stored seeds that failed to germinate in our tests by tetrazolium testing. Although rates of seed germination and seedling survival declined over time, germination rates continued to be substantial after 11 years (52%, 45%, and 87% for ‘Aristocrat,’ ‘Cleveland Select,’ and ‘Bradford’, respectively). Seeds that did not germinate were viable in some cases, but it depended on the maternal cultivar type (27%, 14%, and 0% for ‘Aristocrat,’ ‘Cleveland Select,’ and ‘Bradford’, respectively). These results suggest that a prominent seed bank may exist in invaded sites, posing a challenge to management programs of the P. calleryana. Once such a seed bank is formed, P. calleryana has the potential to persist in a disturbed area despite surface-level eradication efforts, meaning that further effort needs to be made on removing such seed banks as well for complete eradication of Callery pear.

1 - University of Cincinnati, Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
2 - University Of Cincinnati, Dept Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, United States

Keywords:
Invasive 
seed germination
Cultivar 
Seed Bank
Ornamental .

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Ecology Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PEC014
Abstract ID:486
Candidate for Awards:None