Ecological and biological features of species of the genus Atraphaxis in arid regions of south Russia

Introduction. The article analyzes the adaptation capabilities of steppe and semi-desert plants to unfavorable conditions (resistance to low and high temperatures in conditions of moisture deficiency) for their widespread use in enriching agrocenoses of forest-agrarian landscapes. The purpose of the work was to study the biological properties and ecological characteristics of populations of the genus Atrapháxis, to assess their resistance to the soil and climatic conditions of thе Lower Volga.

Objects. Populations of the kurchavka of shrubby (Atraphaxis frutescens (L.) C. Koch.) were studied in the Kamyshinsky district of the Volgograd region at the Nizhnevolzhskaya station for the selection of tree species – a branch of the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the steppe zone on chestnut light loamy soils in combination with salt marshes, precipitation 320-390 mm, humidification coefficient 0.35. In the conditions of the Astrakhan region of the Kharabalinsky district, in the desert zone of light chestnut soils, solonetzic-desert, solonchak, with a precipitation amount of 180-250 mm and a moisture coefficient of 0.11, the kurchavka of prickly (Atraphaxis spinosa (L.)) was studied.

Materials and methods. The bioecological properties of the selected objects were visually assessed according to five criteria: drought resistance (sixpoint scale of Pyatnitsky S.S.), winter hardiness (seven-point scale of the GBS RAS), assessment of the intensity of flowering and fruiting by the method of V. G. Kapper (five-point scale), vitality (three-point scale). The dynamics of the physiological state of the shrub during the growing season based on the indicators of the green leaf pigment system (chlorophyll, flavonoids, anthocyanins) was carried out using the DUALEX SCIENTIFIC+™ flavonoid and chlorophyll meter.

Results and conclusions. It was revealed that the plants were able to adapt to stress conditions due to the high adaptive characteristics of the plant. Kurchavka, thanks to its high adaptive potential, forage and decorative qualities, the ability to purify the air, retain soil and prevent erosion, the curlew plays an important role in the ecosystem. It can grow singly and in sparse xerophytic shrub phytocenoses with buckthorn, almond, honeysuckle, etc. Prospects for further research have been identified – it is necessary to continue the ecological and biological study of species of the genus Atrapháxis in various habitats within the range and the development of mechanisms of introduction and reintroduction in the south of Russia to assess their potential for forest reclamation complexes.

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