Seedling Emergence and Soil Seedbank Persistence of the Invasive Azadirachta indica A. Juss

Abstract

Azadirachta indica (Neem tree) has become widely naturalised and invasive across many countries and regions including northern Australia. To aid management of A. indica where it has become a weed, a series of studies were undertaken to determine its potential soil seed bank persistence. In a field trial, packets of seeds were buried, retrieved periodically over two years and the seed viability assessed. Viability declined rapidly, with a single viable seed retrieved after 12 months burial and none thereafter. Burial depth, soil type, and pasture cover (present and excluded) significantly influenced viability (%) at 3- and 6-month retrievals. Similar data were obtained from repeated runs of a controlled ageing laboratory experiment, which categorized seeds as forming a ‘transient’ seed bank. In a third trial, fresh fruits were placed on the soil surface in replicated field enclosures over two consecutive years and seedling emergence monitored fortnightly. In both years there was no emergence from pasture excluded soil plots and emergence ceased after 2.3 and 8.4 months in plots with pasture present. A fourth (glasshouse) trial found most seeds will emerge from the soil when buried from 1 to 4 cm. However, more fatal germination than successful emergence was recorded for seeds buried at 8 cm. Seed desiccation and fatal germination are factors in A. indica developing a transient soil seed bank, and infestations require shorter-term control programs where seed input is prevented.