INVESTIGADORES
TORRES Carolina Cecilia
artículos
Título:
Reproductive strategies of Datura ferox L.,an abundant invasive weed in agro-ecosystems from central Argentina.
Autor/es:
TORRES, C; MIMOSA, M.; FERREIRA, F.; GALETTO LEONARDO
Revista:
FLORA
Editorial:
ELSEVIER GMBH
Referencias:
Año: 2013 vol. 208 p. 253 - 258
ISSN:
0367-2530
Resumen:
Crop weeds develop in highly modified environments and are one of the most severe threats to agriculture
worldwide, because their invasive nature determines competition for resources with crops and at
the same time they can be hosts for pests and diseases. The information provided in this work is relevant
both in scientific and technical terms, contributing to the design of effective strategies for the control
of Datura ferox (Solanaceae). The aims of this work were to: (a) evaluate the reproductive strategies of
D. ferox relative to fruit and seed production, (b) analyze the relationship between reproductive traits
and persistence of these populations in agro-ecosystems of central Argentina, and (c) discuss different
strategies to control crop weeds based on the knowledge of their reproductive ecology. D. ferox presented
a great reproductive capacity that would not be constrained by limited pollen availability or pollinators
in the populations studied. Flowers were pollinated by sphingids, coleopterans and Apis mellifera. The
populations were self-compatible and autogamous; however, they exhibited higher fruiting percentages
by natural pollination. Fruits produced by autogamy and geitonogamy had larger size and lower
seed number and mass than those derived from natural pollination and xenogamy. D. ferox has combinations
of traits (i.e., two flowering peaks, interactions with different pollinators, seed production after
autogamy or xenogamy) that provide ecological advantages for establishment and survival processes in
agro-ecosystems, hindering the species? control. Control strategies might be improved if D. ferox abundance
would be reduced before flowering to avoid fruit and seed production. This management strategy
should be consistent over several years because the soil seed bank would allow population recovery in
subsequent years.