Journal of Ecology and Environment

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
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Germination and seedling growth of closely related native and invasive legume trees in Nepal

  • Anuj Dangol (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University) ;
  • Ashmita Shrestha (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University) ;
  • Hemanti Airi (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University) ;
  • Nisha Kharel (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University) ;
  • Lal Bahadur Thapa (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University) ;
  • Anjana Devkota (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University) ;
  • Bharat Babu Shrestha (Central Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University)
  • Received : 2024.03.18
  • Accepted : 2024.06.26
  • Published : 2024.09.30
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Abstract

Background: This study compares seed germination and seedling growth parameters of native Senegalia catechu with its closely related invasive Leucaena leucocephala in Nepal. For the comparison of seed germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), and Timson's index (TI), the seeds of both species were incubated under different light (photoperiod and dark), temperatures (30/20℃ and 25/15℃) and water stress conditions (-0.1, -0.25, -0.5, -0.75, and -1 MPa). The seedling emergence from different soil depths was also evaluated. The relative growth rate (RGR), root mass fraction (RMF), stem mass fraction, leaf mass fraction (LMF), and root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) of seedlings were also measured. Results: The seed length and mass of invasive L. leucocephala were higher than that of native S. catechu. The GP of S. catechu was higher at high temperature and photoperiod comparing to L. leucocephala. There was no difference in GP between two species under other light and temperature conditions. The MGT of S. catechu was shorter than that of L. leucocephala at both temperatures. Senegalia catechu exhibited higher TI than L. leucocephala, particularly at high temperatures. Water stress above -0.5 MPa reduced the GP and TI of both species and it was more pronounced in S. catechu than L. leucocephala. The seedling emergence percentage of L. leucocephala was higher than that of S. catechu. Both species exhibited comparable RGR and biomass allocations (RMF, LMF, and RSR). However, L. leucocephala had always greater values of shoot height, root length, leaf number and seedling biomass compared to S. catechu. Conclusions: Larger seeds may not always lead to higher seed GP. Some, but not all, seed germination and seedling growth traits can be useful to characterize invasive alien plant species. Invasiveness of L. leucocephala could be attributed to relatively high tolerance of seed germination to water stress, capacity to germinate from deeper soil, and larger seedling size compared to the confamilial native species.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We are thankful to Prithvi Narayan Shrestha (The Open University, UK) for improving English language of the manuscript.

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