Assessing the potential invasiveness of Cortaderia selloana in Sardinian wetlands through seed germination study

Abstract

The present work is focused on the study of abiotic factors that may favour seed germination and the potential invasiveness of Cortaderia selloana, with particular attention to wetlands. Germination tests were conducted at the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR), testing different temperatures and percentages of NaCl in order to determine the optimal ecological conditions at which germination occurs and the effect of salt on seed germination and viability, as well as on seedling development. Seeds completely germinated at every temperature tested, but the highest germination rate was found at 25° C. Salinity did not prevent seeds from germinating, but it affected germination rate and seedling vigour