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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209280
Title: Hybridization, Invasiveness, and the Impact of Exotic Plants

Author
item Whittemore, Alan

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2007
Publication Date: 3/13/2007
Citation: Hybridization, invasiveness, and the impact of exotic plants. Abstract for Meeting: Invasive Plant Conference: Research, Remove and Renewal, Philadelphia, PA, August 15, 2007.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Human activity often brings together plants that do not naturally grow together, and may result in the formation of novel hybrids. Hybridization between different species or races may produce a wide array of recombinant genotypes, some of which may be more invasive or better adapted to local conditions than their parents. Genetic swamping of native species by hybridization with introduced taxa has been observed in a few cases, and the fertility of rare species may be greatly lowered when their stigmas are flooded with abundant pollen from related species. The results of novel hybridization are unpredictable, and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.