Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. – rezerve semena u zemljištu, klijavost, rasprostranjenost i suzbijanje / Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. - Seed reserves in the soil, germination, distribution and control

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., an invasive weed-ruderal plant in recent years in our country is a very big problem, not only for agriculture but also for the human population, causing her severe pollen allergy and other health complications. Recognizing the problems that it causes, all countries where ragweed is a large, primarily health problem, invest huge efforts, allocate significant financial resources, organized residents, schools, the military, the media, legislate, to limit its spread and ensure its suppression, while our country does not yet have a serious approach to this problem. Since this is a plant that reproduces a generative (seed), ''seed bank'' research in some soil profiles allow to forecast its occurrence at some sites, which greatly facilitates the later contol of both mechanically and by herbicides. Soil samples for analysis of seed reserves were taken with typical ruderal habitats, in Novi Sad, Zrenjanin and Ruma. Since these are ruderal habitats, at all study sites, a relatively high number of ragweed seeds apears. Our study is the first of this type that was conducted in the Republic of Serbia. These studies are of great scientific importance as it includes knowing of basic biological properties of ragweed seeds, such as morphological characteristics, the characteristics of germination, emergence and control methods. For the purposes of testing seed germination A. artemisifolia in year 2007. samples of ambrosia seeds were collected from 15 different localities in the territory of the city and suburbs of Novi Sad. Collected seeds were splited on two halfs: one part was delayed in the cold chamber with a temperature of +4 ° C and the second part of the material is disposed in the chamber with a temperature of - 8 ° C to simulate winter conditions, in purpose to achieve seed vernalization. Seed germination was performed in air chamber under optimal conditions for seed germination. After 9, 14, 21 and 28 days seed germination was evaluated. Germination of stratified seeds was significantly higher than germination of not stratified seeds. Based on the obtained results of distribution and controll of weed-ruderal allergenic plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. in the cities Novi Sad, Zrenjanin and Ruma, the following conclusions were made: Results mapping and control of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. in 15 zones in the city of Novi Sad, 10 zones in Zrenjanin, and 7 in Ruma, indicating significant presence of this plant. Based on the study of the distribution and monitoring of ragweed growth stages, mechanical controll mesures were performed manually, by trimmers or by tractor. Because of ongoing efforts to protect the environment, in the urban locations herbicide treatment was not applied. Glyphosate treatment was applied only in uninhabited areas, agricultural land and wasteland. If ragweed is controlled mechanically, the cutting should be done 3-4 times per year due to the relatively rapid regeneration of plants. Chemical control of ragweed (herbicide glyphosate), has proven much more effective. One treatment per year was sufficient.