Biology of seeds of representatives of genus Hydrangea L. in the South Ural botanical garden (Ufa)

The morphology and sowing qualities of 7 types of hydrangea from the collection of the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute of the UFIC RAS were studied. The studies were carried out according to standard methods. Is determined the mass of 1000 pieces seeds of each species, seed quality (germination energy and germination in laboratory and soil conditions), the nature of seed germination, as well as their sowing qualities after different storage periods. It was found that the representatives of the Heteromallae subsection are characterized by heavier and larger seeds (the maximum weight of 1000 pieces of seeds is 0.06-0.09 g) compared with the representatives of the Americanae subsection (weight of 1000 pieces is 0.02 g). In addition, representatives of the Heteromallae subsection, with the exception of H. paniculata, showed consistently high rates of germination (72.3-85.8%) and germination energy (63.3-78.1%) under laboratory conditions; with soil sowing, these indicators are also significantly higher than that of representatives of the Americanae subsection.