Germination Limits Survival of Trithrinax campestris (Palm Tree) in Argentina
C. Mendoza
Faculty of Science and Technology, U.A.D.E.R., Route 11, Km. 10.5, Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina
L. Guardia
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Route 226, km. 73.5 (B7620ZAA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
A. Pagani
Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, San Martín Avenue 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
G. Ovando
Faculty of Agronomy Sciences, National University of Córdoba, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
E. Giardina
Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, San Martín Avenue 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
A. Di Benedetto *
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Route 226, km. 73.5 (B7620ZAA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina and Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, San Martín Avenue 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Between 1934 and 2010, the palm tree T. campestris population in Entre Ríos province (Argentina) decreased significantly, mainly due to the advance of the agricultural frontier. The aims of this work were to analyze this dramatic geographic decrease of T. campestris and to study the endogenous and exogenous factors that determine its low germination percentage and limited survival. Our results showed that factors limiting T. campestris population growth even under protected areas destined to field bovine production include the soil chemical properties (fields with T. campestris plants had lower pH, EC and sodium concentration and lower OM, concentrations of minerals and CEC values than those without palm plants) and the solute leakage during seed imbibition. When T. campestris seeds were incubated for germination at both 25° and 35°C for one year, none of this seeds germinated; however, seed viability was significantly high at the end of the imbibition period. The rainfall changes associated with the Global Climate Change occurred since the 1970s would also limit the survival of this palm in its native environment.
Keywords: Geographic distribution, global climate change, land use change, seed germination, solute leakage