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Forests
Volume 8
Issue 7
10.3390/f8070226
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Article

Seed Production, Viability, and Reproductive Limits of the Invasive Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) within Invaded Environments †

by
Kristen L. Wickert
1,
Eric S. O’Neal
2,
Donald D. Davis
3 and
Matthew T. Kasson
1,*
1
Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
2
The Davey Tree Expert Company, Horsham, PA 19044, USA
3
Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
This is scientific article number 3318 of the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Forests 2017, 8(7), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8070226
Received: 16 May 2017 / Revised: 9 June 2017 / Accepted: 23 June 2017 / Published: 27 June 2017
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Abstract

The success of some invasive tree species is attributed, in part, to high fecundity in the form of sexual propagules. If invasive trees produce more seed annually than co-occurring native trees, they will have a greater ability to disperse and establish across the landscape. In this study, seed production of female Ailanthus trees was investigated to determine (1) reproductive age limits; (2) annual and cumulative seed output; and (3) seed viability. Existing data on Ailanthus seed production were combined with a novel dataset to compare variability in seed production and explore relationships with tree diameter and age. Results from this study showed Ailanthus’ reproductive window is exceptional, spanning more than a century, with seed viability exceeding 65% from a 104-year-old individual. Germination studies and complementary tetrazolium assays also confirmed high propagule viability from a 7-year-old Ailanthus and supports tetrazolium assays as a proxy for germination studies. Not only can individual Ailanthus produce >1 million seeds annually, but a significant relationship exists between seed production and tree diameter. Using this relationship, cumulative seed production in individual Ailanthus can reach ca. 10 and 52 million seeds over a 40-year and 100-year period, respectively. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of various facets of the reproductive potential of Ailanthus. View Full-Text
Keywords: fecundity; forest invasions; invasive species; propagule pressure; seed viability fecundity; forest invasions; invasive species; propagule pressure; seed viability
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MDPI and ACS Style

Wickert, K.L.; O’Neal, E.S.; Davis, D.D.; Kasson, M.T. Seed Production, Viability, and Reproductive Limits of the Invasive Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) within Invaded Environments. Forests 2017, 8, 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/f8070226

AMA Style

Wickert KL, O’Neal ES, Davis DD, Kasson MT. Seed Production, Viability, and Reproductive Limits of the Invasive Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) within Invaded Environments. Forests. 2017; 8(7):226. https://doi.org/10.3390/f8070226

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wickert, Kristen L., Eric S. O’Neal, Donald D. Davis, and Matthew T. Kasson. 2017. "Seed Production, Viability, and Reproductive Limits of the Invasive Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) within Invaded Environments" Forests 8, no. 7: 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/f8070226

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