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Seed dormancy, germination, emergence and seed longevity in G alinsoga parviflora and G. quadriradiata
Author(s) -
Cauwer B,
Devos R,
Claerhout S,
Bulcke R,
Reheul D
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1111/wre.12055
Subject(s) - germination , dormancy , biology , seedling , loam , seed dormancy , agronomy , population , horticulture , rootstock , soil water , ecology , demography , sociology
Summary Galinsoga quadriradiata (hairy galinsoga) and G alinsoga parviflora (smallflower galinsoga, gallant soldier) are very troublesome weeds in many vegetable row crops in E urope. To optimise management strategies for G alinsoga spp. control, an in‐depth study of germination biology was performed. Germination experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of light and alternating temperatures on germination of a large set of G alinsoga populations. Seedling emergence was investigated by burying seeds at different depths in a sandy and sandy loam soil. Dormancy of fresh seeds harvested in autumn was evaluated by studying germination response in light at 25/20°C with and without nitrate addition. Seed longevity was investigated in an accelerated ageing experiment by exposing seeds to 45°C and 100% relative humidity. Galinsoga spp. seeds required light for germination; light dependency varied among populations. Seedling emergence decreased drastically with increasing burial depth. Maximum depth of emergence varied between 4 and 10 mm depending on soil type and population. In a sandy soil, emergence percentages were higher and seedlings were able to emerge from greater depths than in a sandy loam soil. Freshly produced G . parviflora seeds, harvested in autumn, showed a varying but high degree of primary dormancy and were less persistent than G . quadriradiata seeds that lack primary dormancy. Lack of primary dormancy of freshly harvested G . quadriradiata seeds and light dependency for germination may be used to optimise and develop G alinsoga management strategies.