A review of seed ecology of poisonous plants in the world's grasslands

In degraded grasslands, luxuriant growth and rapid expansion of poisonous plants threaten livestock safety and reduce forage quality. Most of the poisonous plants propagate through seeds, but previous studies have paid insufficient attention to seed ecology, leading to a lack of sufficient support for ecological research regarding the formulation and implementation of relevant prevention and control methods. Based on a review of 172 references (1933-2020), we have summarized the research on soil seed banks, seed germination and dormancy, and seed dispersal of poisonous plants in the world's grasslands. The plants involved are Euphorbia esula, Eupatorium adenophorum, Lantana camara, Stellera chamaejasme, Achnatherum inebrians, genera of Senecio, Delphinium, Cicuta, Aconitum, Lupinus, Halogeton, and locoweed, which refers specifically to a kind of poisonous plants of Astragalus and Oxytropis genus containing swainsonine. There are some commonalities in the seed ecology of different poisonous plants in grasslands, including the persistence and surface aggregation of soil seed banks, as well as primary, long-distance dispersal by wind and animals. However, there are many differences between poisonous plants in terms of soil seed density, preference conditions of seed germination, seed dispersal media, and distance. For controlling the spread of poisonous plant seeds must reduce the disturbance to the surface soil and prohibit grazing during the active stage of seed rain. We recommend future studies investigate the influence of grazing on seed germination and propagation, the formation and fall of seed rain, and the impact of global change on poisonous plants. This review will be helpful for grassland researchers and managers in the study of seed ecology and the control strategy of poisonous plants.

Automated summary

The study of seed ecology of poisonous plants is essential for providing theoretical support and recommendations for the control of poisonous plants in grasslands. Commonalities in the seed ecology of different poisonous plants include the persistence and surface aggregation of soil seed banks, as well as primary dispersal by wind and animals.