Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

Introduction

Equisetum arvense L. (Common horsetail) is a perennial weed that is frequent in cultivated fields and causes problems in many parts of North America, Canada, Australia and Europe. The weed reproduces vegetatively via rhizomes (root like) and tubers (knob like), a system that enables continuous vegetative reproduction during growth periods. Due to this system, E. arvense is spreading efficiently below ground after initial establishment and thereby the weed locally is very competitive with crops in cultivated fields. It is the rhizomes and tubers that are the primary organs that remain viable until the next growing season and in addition to reproduction, these organs also function as storage device. The sexual repdroduction occurs through spores, a phenomenon that distinguishes them from most other weeds, which have their sexual reproduction through flowers and seeds. Equisetum arvense is a evolutionary old species and has a broad ecological niche wich means that it can establish in many different kinds of environments e.g. dry or most and cold or warm areas.

There are many unstudied aspects of the autoecology and performance of E. arvense. The degree of variation within the species is one, including both local adaptation and clone specific differences. Such knowledge can be helpful to elaborate improved control programs for this weed.

Aim

The aim of the study was to increase the knowledge of the performance during early growth of E. arvense, with special focus on possible differences between clones with different geographical origin. Questions addressed included development and allocation of below-/aboveground biomass and development of tubers. In order to investigate possibility of local adaptation to areas or over a gradient, plant material was collected within different regions over a ca 1000 km north to south gradient in Sweden. This will bring basal knowledge of importance for future studies of E. arvense, for example regarding responses of certain environmental factors.

The results will increase the knowledge of performance during early growth in general, as well as of variation on a local level and the extent of general variation within Sweden.