The species of Crataegus L. at the initial phase of introduction in the Mountains of Dagestan

The paper presents the results of an ecological-geographical experiment of 4 species of Crataegus L. (C. songarica, C. monogyna, C. pseudoheterophylla, C. pentagyna). Sowing of seeds (fruits) was carried out in 2013, at two experimental bases of the Mountain Botanical Garden: Gunib experimental base - 1700 m above sea level and Tsudakhar experimental base - 1100 m above sea level. The aim of the work is to identify the adaptive capabilities of seedlings of Crataegus L. species at the early stage of plant introduction, comparing the hawthorn species to each other for morphological (quantitative) signs of shoot and leaf in the first year of cultivation in Dagestan. Hawthorn seeds sprout in the second year after sowing. In the conditions of Mountain Dagestan, a negative correlation of germination is observed depending on the altitude factor for all studied species: with an increase in altitude, field germination decreases. A comparison of phenological data revealed differences in the growth and development of one year old shoot in different growing conditions. Analysis of one year old seedlings' quantitative traits variability of 4 species Crataegus, depending on the height conditions revealed their adaptive nature. The work was performed on a unique scientific installation "System of experimental bases of the Mountain Botanical Garden".