Synflorescence regeneration after cutting in Solidago ×niederederi (Asteraceae), a hybrid between invasive S. canadensis and native S. virgaurea

Abstract

Solidago ×niederederi, a natural hybrid between invasive S. canadensis and native S. virgaurea, is considered as naturalized alien taxon in Europe. In this study, we conducted a field experiment on the regeneration ability of S. ×niederederi after cutting off its synflorescences (panicles with capitula). The regeneration of synflorescences occurred in 79.6% of the examined shoots (ramets) of the hybrid. After regeneration shoots were significantly shorter and formed shorter, narrower and less branched synflorescences. Moreover, the number of capitula was significantly lower after regeneration as well as number of disc flowers and pollen viability. The obtained results suggest that the hybrid has a high ability of synflorescence regeneration after cutting and one-time cutting at high level during flowering is not effective method to control the hybrid in the wild.

Findings to the flora of Russia and adjacent countries: New national and regional vascular plant records, 4

“…As these two species differ in flowering period [S. canadensis is flowering considerably later than S. virgaurea], it was recently sup posed that large-scale hybridization is highly improbable to occur (Kabuce & Pride 2010). Nevertheless, by now S. × niederederi is considered as a naturalized alien taxon in se ve ral European countries (Pliszko et al 2021). Within Russia this still rare hybrid was found in European part of the count ry, namely in Moscow, Kaluga, Tver, Pskov, Kaliningrad and Bryansk Regions (Mayorov et al 2012, Vinogradova & Galkina 2019, Galkina & Vinogradova 2020, GBIF Secre ta riat, 2021 l).…”

“…In Europe S. × niederederi grows in open disturbed areas (e.g., abandoned arable fields, quarries, railway and river embankments, etc. ), usually together with both parental species (Pliszko et al 2021). S. × niederederi is new interspecies hybrid (nothospecies) for Asian Russia (and probab ly for whole Asia).…”