Features of growth and generative development of Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau in the conditions of the Northern Black Sea region

Abstract

The need to control the spread of introduced species with high adaptive potential in new ecological conditions necessitates the study of their biological properties. The aim of the study was to establish the biological characteristics of Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau plants in the Northern Black Sea region with the possibility of determining their potential ability to naturalise. The research material consisted of collections of C. radicans fruits and seeds, as well as observations of 40 C. radicans individuals of different ages, carried out during 2023-2025. The research found that C. radicans individuals go through three ontogenetic periods and seven age stages in their development. The vegetation period of C. radicans in the studied area lasts 240 days. C. radicans is characterised by a late start and end of vegetation and belongs to spring-summer-autumn green plants. It has been established that the carpological characteristics of C. radicans are consistent with the species norm. The fruits of C. radicans were 8-20 cm long (14.3 cm on average) and 2.0-3.3 cm wide (2.5 cm on average). The linear parameters of the seeds were 0.4-0.8 cm in length (0.5 cm on average) and 0.6-0.9 cm in width (0.8 cm on average). The weight of 1,000 seeds was 3.4 g. It was determined that the studied plants produced high-quality seed material. The germination and germination energy indicators of seeds in laboratory conditions were higher than in field conditions (94 and 90%, 86% and 77%, respectively). The acclimatisation index calculated according to four criteria was 90 points, which corresponds to the full degree of acclimatisation of C. radicans in the Northern Black Sea region. The identified features of growth and generative development of C. radicans indicate the significant adaptive capabilities of the species