A Survey of Winter-Hardy Prunus Species: Evaluation of Seed Germination, Seedling Establishment, and Pollen Viability

Abstract

Prunus is a genus that contains a number of economically important fruit crops (e.g. apricots, sweet and tart cherries, and plums) as well as many ornamental species. However, some Prunus species (e.g. P. serotina Ehrh) have escaped cultivation and become invasive. By evaluating seed germination, seedling establishment, and male fertility, this thesis characterized the invasive potential of winter-hardy Prunus cultivars. The winter-hardy cultivars examined, were characterized by high male fertility and variable seed germination and seedling establishment. Due to relatively low germination percentages and/or poor seedling establishment, the majority of cultivars examined will probably not become invasive. However, this thesis identified a few cultivars that could potentially become invasive. Future work should focus on the invasive potential of the cultivars P. americana Marsh ‘Hazel’, P. monsoniana Wight and Hedrick ‘Whittaker’, Prunus spp. ‘Hennepin’ and ‘South Dakota’, and all tart cherry (P. cerasus L.) cultivars examined.