Climate Warming and Changes in the Reproductive Capacity of Woody Plants

Critical or abnormally severe winters, which are the main factor in selection, have a great influence on the condition and life expectancy of plants. If the consequences of warm winters affect, first of all, the flowering and fruiting of plants, then after very cold winters there was a massive death and/or severe damage to many species of plants. The introduction of trees and shrubs in the Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute RAS took place against the background of much harsher winter and summer temperatures than at present. Changes in the reproductive sphere are also closely related to the freezing of plants (kidneys, shoots, sometimes and the entire aboveground part). The abundance of flowering and, accordingly, the yield of fruits and the quality of seeds can sharply decrease. At the beginning of the XXI century in St. Petersburg, the number of species of trees and shrubs that have reached reproductive status increased markedly. Against the background of ongoing climate warming, self-settling of a number of species in which it was not previously observed was found (Carpinus betulus L., Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl., Cerasus maximowiczii (Rupr.) Kom. & Aliss., Spiraea betulifolia Pall.), Which is an important indicator of adaptation and a sign of possible future naturalization of the species in this territory. At the same time, many species can become and become potentially invasive, which raises questions about their careful monitoring and culture in controlled conditions.