Assessment of introduction studies on far eastern Primula species in the polar-alpine botanical garden-institute

Abstract

Species of Primula genus are indispensable introducents for the Kola North, characterized by compact bushes, bright colors, tolerance to urban environments and predominantly early flowering. The Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute has been studying species of Primula genus since 1934. The results of introduction studies (from 1948 to present) of 6 Far Eastern species of Primula genus: P. borealis Duby, P. farinosa L., P. jesoana Miq., P. nutans Georgi, P. patens (Turcz.) E. Busch, P. saxatilis Kom. were analyzed in the article. The initial material was obtained by seed exchange with botanical gardens in Russia, the CIS and foreign countries. Phenological observations were carried out according to generally accepted methods, on the basis of which the phenological spectrum of seasonal development of plants were constructed, and survival points (SP) were assessed. The introduction coefficient (IC) was calculated, which reflected the introduction value of the considered group of plants. The method of ecological-geographical analysis was used to compile the introduction forecast. Among the studied species, Primula nutans (SP=11) obtained from the seeds of cultivated plants from Scandinavian countries and P. jesoana (SP=9) were most adapted to the conditions of the Kola Arctic. Two species ( P. borealis, P. patens (SP = 4)) were poorly adapted to the conditions of the region, P. farinosa (SP = 1.0) and P. saxatilis (SP = 1.5) were not tested enough due to a short study period. The study showed that plants living from the tundra to the steppe zone ( P. nutans - I C = 1.57) and, in some cases, plants of the taiga zone reaching the subalpine belt in the mountains ( Primula jesoana - I C= 1.28) were adapted to local conditions. The plants of the tundra zone and the alpine zone in the mountains ( P. borealis - IC = 0.57) were less adapted.