Phytogeographical analysis of the Vršac vineyards (Serbia) weed flora

Abstract

Application of various agrotechnical measures is the key factor defining the composition of the vineyard weed flora. Vineyard weed communities are highly diverse, due to specific environmental characteristics and frequent disturbances of these agroecosystems. Bearing all this in mind and due to a limited number of studies of the vineyard weed flora in Serbia, the aim of this research was to assess the phytogeographical characteristics of the vineyard weed flora in the Vršac vineyards. Field research encompassed the entire vegetation season (March- November) in 2016 and was performed at three localities within the area of the Vršac vineyards. Floristic analysis was done at 60 fixed 1 m2 plots (48 between-row and 12 in-row plots). Phytogeographical analysis has determined that 97 weed species which were recorded belong to eight areal types. Weed species predominately belonged to the Eurasian areal type, with 49 recorded species (51%). Results have shown the presence of 14 species of cosmopolitan distribution, while the Pontic-Mediterranean areal type was represented by 10 weed species (10%). This transitional areal type was represented by four areal groups, of which the Pontic-CentralAsian-Submediterranean group was the most numerous. Of the plants typical for the Pannonian region of Serbia, i.e. the steppe species, belonging to the Pontic-SouthSiberian areal type, only two weed species (Asperugo procumbens and Senecio vernalis) were recorded. Allochthonous species (adventive areal type) were represented by eight weed species, with species originating from North America (Amaranthus retroflexus, Erigeron annuus, E. canadensis, Panicum capillare and Xanthium strumarium subsp. italicum) being dominant.