Common Ragweed Ecotypes

Abstract

Seed of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) ecotypes were collected from 12 locations in North America and were planted at Ithaca, New York. Plants from seed collected in the northern latitudes flowered earlier and produced less vegetative growth. The difference in growth and development of the ecotypes was caused by the day length or latitude where they had originated. Seedlings emerging in early July produced approximately one-third as much fresh or dry weight and about one-third as many viable seeds as those emerging in the middle of May. The latter produced more than 32,000 seed per plant.