Influence of spring frosts on reproductivity of species of the genus Robinia L. in protective forest plantations of the Volgograd Region

UDC 630.181
DOI: 10.34736/FNC.2024.127.4.009.66-73
Kristina A. Melnik e-mail: melnik-k@vfanc.ru, Junior Researcher, ORCID: 0000-0002-7103-6436
Anna I. Peredrienko peredrienko-a@vfanc.ru, Research Engineer, ORCID: 0000-0002-1717-1725
Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Protective Afforestation of the Russian Academy of Sciences” (FSC of agroecology RAS), e-mail: info@vfanc.ru, 400062, Universitetsky Pr-t, 97, Volgograd, Russia
Abstract.The genus Robinia L., holds significant value for agroforestry and protective afforestation initiatives in the Volgograd region. The subjects of this study were Robinia: R. neomexicana A. Gray. and R. pseudoacacia L., growing in the nursery and dendrological garden of the Volgograd region (Federal Research Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Nizhnevolzhskaya Tree Breeding Station). The aim of the study was to evaluate the reproductive systems of Robiniaspecies and their tolerance to spring frosts during the flowering period in the Volgograd region. The research revealed that during the process of gradual adaptation to spring frosts in the flowering phase, the studied trees, aged up to 30 years, significantly increased their tolerance to low temperatures. The studied species demonstrated the ability to form resilient plantations, making them promising candidates for cultivation in arid regions. It was found that, in 2024, the flowering periods of R. neomexicana A. Gray. and R. pseudoacacia L. shifted by 12–15 days from the average values. Secondary flowering of the introduced species was observed under dry steppe conditions of the Volgograd region, which was attributed to stress factors and the region's climatic conditions. At the Nizhnevolzhskaya Tree Breeding Station, R. neomexicana demonstrated a higher winter hardiness score (3.7) compared to R. pseudoacacia L. (3.6), as its flowering occurred later, resulting in a greater fruit yield (3.8).
Keywords:: Robinia pseudoacacia L., Robinia Neomexicana A. Gray, frost, flowering, adaptation, winter hardiness, introduction.
Funding: The research was conducted as part of the implementation of State Assignment No FNFE-2020-0004 "Formation of multifunctional cluster dendrological expositions and their renovation into bioresource artificial and green landscape spaces of recreational type in sparsely forested regions of Russia".
Citation:Melnik K. A., Peredrienko A. I. The effect of spring frosts on the reproduction of species of the genus Robinia L. в защитных лесонасаждениях Волгоградской области // Научно-агрономический журнал. 2024 4(127). С. 66-73. DOI: 10.34736/FNC.2024.127.4.009.66-73