Effect of rhizome exposure to contrasting abiotic conditions on the performance of the invasive macrophyte Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig (Zingiberaceae)

Although invasive species are often better competitors than native species, broad environmental tolerance may also drive invasion success. Tolerance to abiotic heterogeneity in riparian ecosystems tends favour the establishment of alien clonal as well their dispersion by vegetative fragments. Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig is a rhizomatous emergent macrophyte Asia and has invaded Neotropical ecosystems. We assessed effect H. rhizome exposure distinct conditions on ramet growth. exposed rhizomes different desiccation periods (1–90 days), temperatures (15, 25 35 °C), light regimes (0, 12, 16 h) then each these variables subsequent growth (aboveground biomass production per plant ramet, number height ramets) under ambient conditions. While no survived longer 30 days, among surviving was not affected period desiccation. Biomass rhizome, biomass, were significantly lower at °C °C. Constant darkness increased survival, but decreased extremes variable hinder success coronarium, aboveground did decrease strongly response any treatment. This resilience contribute successful after dispersal through fragments varying