Germination dynamics and seedling frost resistance of invasive and native Impatiens species reflect local climatic conditions
Abstract
Among-population differences in germination dynamics and frost resistance were found within all species except I. capensis. Performance of I. capensis was within the scope of other congeners; it does not seem to be a barrier to its spread into Central Europe.
In I. noli-tangere, I. glandulifera and I. parviflora the differences were related to the climatic characteristics in early spring at the source localities, which indicates that individuals may be adapted to local conditions. The differences found between the populations are likely to reflect the frost sensitivity of the species.
In the highly frost-sensitive I. parviflora differentiation was found both in germination and frost resistance of individual populations. Since local adaptations were indicated both in native and invasive species studied, they are unlikely to provide the invasive Impatiens species with an advantage against the native congener.