Features of Seed Propagation of Ailanthus Altissima (Mill.) Swingle in the Mykolaiv Region

Abstract

This article presents data on seed propagation of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle in Mykolaiv region. The materials of the work are the fruits of 20 individuals of A. altissima, collected in 2018, 2020, and 2022 in urbanized ecotopes (parks of of Mykolaiv city) and ecotopes in semi-natural landscapes (surroundings of the village of Veselinove, Mykolaiv region), as well as field observations of plants. It has been established that A. altissima forms fruits with the dimension of length from 2,5 to 4,2 cm (the mean is 3,3±0,01 cm) and with the dimension of width from 0,8 to 1,5 (the mean is 1,2±0,01 cm). The seeds are 0.3-0.5 cm long (average 0.42±0.01 cm), 0.1-0.3 cm wide (average 0.23±0.01 cm). The mass of 1000 seeds is 21 g. The defined carpological feature of A. altissima meets norms. In laboratory conditions, the quality indicators of A. altissima seeds were determined: good quality and viability were 84% and 92%, respectively, germination indicators varied from 80 to 86%, growth energy - from 68 to 80%. It has been established that the seeds of A. altissima are able to preserve their sowing qualities during a 4-year storage period. The reproductive ability of A. altissima in the conditions of the Mykolaiv region is high (6 points). The obtained characteristics of the generative reproduction of A. altissima illustrate the high reproductive potential of the species.