Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 May 2013 Diaspores of the Introduced Species Poa annua L. in Soil Samples from King George Island (South Shetlands, Antarctica)
Maciej Wódkiewicz, Halina Galera, Katarzyna J. Chwedorzewska, Irena Giełwanowska, Maria Olech
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The soil seed bank and seed germination capacity of Poa annua in the vicinity of the Polish Antarctic Station (South Shetlands, Antarctica) were investigated. It was documented that annual bluegrass can reproduce sexually and produce a functional seed bank of close to 5000 seeds/m2 under maritime Antarctic conditions. Comparison of germination between Poa annua and two native plant species revealed that Poa annua seeds can germinate as fast or even faster than native species, and are more vigorous. Our studies show that in the Antarctic Poa annua can successfully reproduce sexually and produce fully developed, viable caryopses that are able to survive the maritime Antarctic winter, not only in a soil bank, but also directly in the previous year's inflorescences.

© 2013 Regents of the University of Colorado
Maciej Wódkiewicz, Halina Galera, Katarzyna J. Chwedorzewska, Irena Giełwanowska, and Maria Olech "Diaspores of the Introduced Species Poa annua L. in Soil Samples from King George Island (South Shetlands, Antarctica)," Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 45(3), 415-419, (1 May 2013). https://doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-45.3.415
Accepted: 1 April 2013; Published: 1 May 2013
Back to Top