Serotiny facilitates kochia (Bassia scoparia) persistence via aerial seedbanks

Abstract

Serotiny results in aerial seedbanks that enable persistence of some plant species by evading decay, predation, or lethal germination in the soil seedbank. Although more common in forestry, this concept has received little focus in weed science. On average, kochia [ Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott] retained 2091 seeds plant−1 (∼18.5% of seeds) in aerial seedbanks among 109 sample sites in spring, 7–8 months after senescence and following subsequent cohort emergence from the short-lived soil seedbank. Therefore, asynchronous seedling recruitment of kochia persisting in simultaneous aerial and soil seedbanks could represent an adaptive bet-hedging strategy for successful establishment in high-stress drought-prone environments.