Abstract Detail

Physiological Section

Seliskar, Denise M. [1], Gallagher, John L. [1].

Differential seedling sulfide sensitivity among species colonizing restored Phragmites-infested wetlands.

Seedling establishment is an important means of re-colonizing herbicide-treated and burned Phragmites australis marshes and of filling in newly created or naturally forming marshes. Knowing the differential sensitivity of the various species to sulfide enables us to better predict which plants are likely to colonize given areas, i.e. be it desirable species or P. australis. This study focuses o­n the sulfide sensitivity of the seedlings of five plant species that may re-colonize the cleared marsh surface either from wild seed stock or introduced propagules: Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, Setaria magna, Atriplex triangularis, and P. australis. Seedlings were grown in culture tubes in semi-solid agar media containing Hoagland’s nutrients; sulfide treatments included levels of sulfide from 0 to 8 mM. Parameters measured included number of leaves, number of lateral roots, shoot length, root length, leaf length, and biomass. S. magna proved to be the most sensitive to sulfide followed, in order, by A. triangularis, S. patens, P. australis, and S. alterniflora. Differences in edaphic sulfide are not likely to be helpful in favoring S. magna, A. triangularis, or S. patens over P. australis. P. australis was compared to S. alterniflora in a second experiment with six concentrations of sulfide between 0 and 2.0 mM. Results indicated that sulfide levels between 0.4 and 0.9 mM would favor seedling establishment of S. alterniflora over P. australis and at 0.9 mM S. alterniflora seedlings would have the decided advantage.

Related Links:
Halophyte Biotechnology Center web site

1 - University of Delaware, College of Marine Studies, Halophyte Biotechnology Center, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware, 19958, USA

Keywords:
Phragmites australis
Spartina alterniflora
wetland restoration
salt marsh
sulfide.

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 11-2
Location: White Pine (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2004
Time: 10:15 AM
Abstract ID:71