Evaluation of Native <i>Festuca</i> Taxa for Sustainable Application in Urban Environments: Their Characteristics, Ornamental Value, and Germination in Different Growing Media

oleh: Tünde Szabó-Szöllösi, Éva Horváthné Baracsi, Péter Csontos, László Papp, Szilvia Kisvarga, László Orlóci, Judit Házi, Zoltán Kende, Dénes Saláta, Márta Fuchs, Judit Rita Keleti, Ákos Tarnawa, Katalin Rusvai, Károly Penksza

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-09-01

Deskripsi

This research is part of a Hungarian Research OTKA project that examines the vegetation of sandy grasslands along the Danube. During this study, <i>Festuca wagneri</i> and <i>Festuca tomanii</i> were identified as potentially suitable grass species for urban planting and turf establishment based on preliminary research. Our aim was to determine the germination success of seeds from aesthetically selected individuals and to identify the growing media on which they germinate most effectively. From the collected <i>Festuca</i> individuals, we analyzed 30 specimens of each taxon under garden conditions and selected the individuals for germination. The <i>Festuca tomanii</i> individuals were uniform, so we selected only 5 individuals. The <i>Festuca wagneri</i> individuals were categorized into three groups: leaves and inflorescence densely upright, inflorescence shoots spread out, and low ’dwarf’ form (compact and dense but short in stature). It was assumed that <i>Festuca</i> species seeds would germinate better in sandy soils. To test our hypothesis, seeds from ten <i>Festuca wagneri</i> and five <i>Festuca tomanii</i> individuals, selected based on aesthetic criteria, were sown in six different substrates: a sand–peat mixture, sand, coconut fiber, peat, coconut fiber–sand mixture, and native sandy soil (Calcaric Arenosol). Contrary to our expectations, the growth and germination rates of seeds sown in peat and coconut fiber substrates were higher than those in native sandy soil. These results suggest that <i>Festuca</i> seeds germinate better on substrates resembling dead plant debris with a peat-like structure or on the surface of live mosses rather than on bare sand. Among the examined individuals, the seeds from the spreading <i>Festuca wagneri</i> group exhibited the highest germination rate, making this group particularly suitable for urban environments. Additionally, one of the upright <i>Festuca wagneri</i> individuals showed the highest leaf average length and should also be considered for urban planting. In contrast, despite their uniform appearance, the <i>Festuca tomanii</i> individuals did not demonstrate similar germination trends. In fact, the seeds from two clumps did not germinate at all, indicating that further research is necessary.