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Home > GCR > Vol. 21 > Iss. 1 (2009)

 

Alternate Title

Determining Salinity-Tolerance of Giant Salvinia Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Salvinia molesta Mitchell, a floating invasive aquatic plant, is one of the top 10 worst invasive aquatic weeds in the world. It was discovered in the lower Pascagoula River in 2005 and evidence suggests that this non-native species is spreading along the northern Gulf of Mexico. These plants exhibit rapid growth and nutrient uptake rates, allowing them to out compete other plants in similar habitats. Distributional observations suggest that non-native S. molesta is able to survive in salinities of up to 7 ppt in the lower Pascagoula River. The response of S. molesta to three salinity levels (0, 5, 10 ppt) was tested using chlorophyll fluorescence. The health of the plants was measured over a period of one month, using a log scale series of observation intensities (hourly, daily, weekly). Plant responses indicated an acute salinity effect after about 4-6 hrs and then a gradual chronic decline. Compared to initial measurements, the final actual quantum yield (ΔF/Fm') dropped by 5%, 6% and 29%, while the final potential quantum yield (Fv/Fm) dropped 6%, 27% and 39% in the 0, 5, and 10 ppt treatments, respectively. Only plants in the 0 ppt treatment showed significant new growth. Plants in 5 ppt appeared to maintain themselves, but plants at 10 ppt all exhibited signs of severe stress and loss of color, turgor, and tissue viability after 10 d. Tolerance to brackish salinities has been reported in the past, and has implications for the use of the biological control agent, the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae, that can only tolerate freshwater conditions.

First Page

31

Last Page

36

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