Premium
Germination and Establishment of Salsola in Relation to Seedbed Environment. I. Temperature, Afterripening, and Moisture Relations of Salsola Seeds as Determined by Laboratory Studies 1
Author(s) -
Young James A.,
Evans Raymond A.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1972.00021962006400020026x
Subject(s) - germination , moisture , thistle , agronomy , seedbed , horticulture , biology , chemistry , seedling , organic chemistry
Our purposes were to investigate the germination characteristics of Russian thistle ( Salsola kali var. tenuifolia Tausch.) and to identify the characteristics that control the periodicity of germination for this species. Germination tests were conducted at constant and alternating temperatures from —9 to 30 C and at various moisture potentials. Seeds for testing were collected at intervals from maturity until the following spring. Seeds of Russian thistle have temperature‐dependent afterripening requirements that depress germination at high and low temperatures soon after maturity. There are several distinct steps in the phenological development of the germination of Russian thistle seeds. The rate of development is extremely rapid at high temperatures. When afterripening requirements are satisfied in March and April germination will occur with subzero C nighttune temperatures and 2 C daytime temperatures. Germination was very low on the surface of a media held at —0.1 bars matric potential if the atmosphere around the seeds has a moderate to high moisture stress. Afterripening requirements are the major, but not the only factor, governing the periodicity of germination of Russian thistle seeds.