Format: ORAL

Martina DAgostino1, Silvia Assolari2, Francesco Boscutti3,4, Giacomo Trotta3,5, Marco Vuerich3, Thomas Abeli1

1 Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy 2 SemeNostrum, Udine, Italy 3 University of Udine, Udine, Italy 4 NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy 5 University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

After 1950, wild arable plants (hereafter arable species) underwent a dramatic decline due to the rapid intensification of agriculture. In most cases, arable species are considered as weeds and, for this reason, they have been systematically eradicated in conventional farming systems. Arable species extirpated even in sustainable agricultural systems are no longer able to recolonize their former range. Therefore, the reintroduction of arable species within agroecosystems has been proposed to improve their conservation status. Unfortunately, farmers are often reluctant to accept the reintroduction of endangered plants to their lands, as they could reduce crop productivity through competition. Therefore, it is important to understand if farmers fears of a reduction of crop productivity are grounded in evidence, to engage them to promote coexistence between crops and rare arable species. We studied the mutual competitive effects between two iconic arable species, Agrostemma githago L. and Centaurea cyanus L., and wheat (Triticum aestivum L., variety Palesio) in two densities (5% and 10%) in an open field experiment at the SemeNostrum company (Udine, Italy) in 2022/2023. Analysing the roots/shoots ratio, A. githago and C. cyanus in competition with the crop significantly reduced the aerial part growth in relation to the root part. The arable species-crop interaction also affected the specific leaf area and chlorophyll content of wild species, which decreased in the presence of wheat. For T. aestivum, instead, there was no significant effect on the biomass, specific leaf area or chlorophyll content due to the presence of A. githago and C. cyanus. Results were consistence in both densities. This first comparative analysis evidences a plausible model of coexistence of arable species and crops. This will provide the baseline for future translocation protocols of threatened species in agricultural contexts.