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Germination behaviour of Dactyloctenium aegyptium from two localities in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Okusanya O. T.,
Sonaike A. A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1991.tb05089.x
Subject(s) - germination , salinity , population , biology , water content , moisture , habitat , botany , horticulture , agronomy , ecology , geography , geology , demography , geotechnical engineering , sociology , meteorology
The germination response of Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Beauv from two localities in Nigeria to the effects of some environmental factors was determined experimentally. The two populations (Otta and University) germinated equally well in alkaline medium, but in acidic medium the Otta population germinated significantly better than the University of Lagos population. They germinated to the same extent in light and dark and equally well in humic soil. The Otta population had significantly better germination in the red earth and sand than the University population, even though germination in both populations in sand was significantly poorer than in humic soil and red earth. Under the various soil moisture contents tested, they both showed an increase in germination as soil moisture content decreased. The populations exhibited the usual pattern of minimum, optimum and maximum germination in response to the constant temperatures tested. The University population had a salinity tolerance range of 20% sea water with the percentage germination decreasing with increase in salinity, while the Otta population had a range of 100% with maximum germination in up to 50% sea water. The results are discussed in relation to the ecology of the species and the habitats of the populations as well as the need to state not only the place and date of seed collection but also the environmental factors prevailing in the locality.