Optimization of the artificial phytocenoses structure of the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka” of NAS of Ukraine by introducing alien climbing honeysuckles plants of the genus Lonicera L.

Abstract

The results of 35-year research of the introduction of East Asian climbing honeysuckles of the subgenus Chamaecerasus Rehd. in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine and their role in optimizing the structure of phyto- cenoses of the The National Dendrological Park «Sofiyivka» of the NASU were presented. It was found that the climatic conditions of the introduction area have significant differences between climate indicators (thermal regime indicators and others) with the climatic conditions of natural habitats of climbing honeysuckles species of the subgenus Chamaecerasus, which negatively affect the rhythm of development and flowering and fruiting of introduced plants. It was determinated that the generative period of climbing honeysuckles of the subgenus Chamaecerasus in the arboretum occurs at 4–6 years of age. Most of the introduced honeysuckle was characterized by good (4 points) and satisfactory (3 points) flowering. Representatives of the subsection Breviflorae Rehd. were characterized by long and remontant flowering. It was found that the dynamics of daily fertility of honeysuckles pollen from different areas is closely related to the daily course of flower bloom- ing and daily flight activity of pollinating insects. The duration of the period of fruit formation of introduced honeysuckles depends on the time of the beginning of flowering of species and their geographical origin. Determined amount of positive temperatures above 0 °C required for mass ripening fruit honeysuckles different geographical origin. The plants bear fruit single fruits with empty seeds (ball bearing 1). The collection of climbing honeysuckles of the subgenus Chamaecerasus was created in the National Dendrological Park «Sofiyivka» of the NAS of Ukraine, it has significant scientific and informative value as collector' s stuff is valuable gene pool for further breeding work. The optimal forms of conservation and cultivation of biodiversity of round honeysuckle of the genus Lonicera L. in the one-species gardens and other artificially created phytocenoses have been determined.