Bracken fern inhibition of conifer regeneration in northern Idaho

Dennis Ferguson; Raymond J. Boyd

Treesearch

Bracken fern inhibition of conifer regeneration in northern Idaho

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Dennis Ferguson, Raymond J. Boyd

Year:

1988

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Res. Pap. INT-RP-388. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, lntermountain Research Station. 11 p.

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Download (PDF 2.21 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/65322.pdf

Abstract

Investigations on the allelopathic potential of bracken fern in northern Idaho were conducted to gain an understanding of the mechanism(s) associated with regeneration failures. Average growth and green top weight of conifers planted in potting soil were about 1.8 and 1.6 times greater than those planted in soil from bracken glades. Greenhouse tests showed little reduction in germination of conifer and shrub seeds on soil from bracken glades. Further germination tests of conifer seeds in bracken glades showed that seeds germinated but died before shedding their seedcoats. The percentage of dead seed helps explain the virtual exclusion of conifers from bracken fern glades in northern Idaho.

Keywords

Pteridium aquilinum, allelopathy, phytotoxins, competition

Citation

Ferguson, Dennis E.; Boyd, Raymond J. 1988. Bracken fern inhibition of conifer regeneration in northern Idaho. Res. Pap. INT-RP-388. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, lntermountain Research Station. 11 p.