Amaranthus retroflexus seed dormancy and germination responses to environmental factors and chemical stimulants

Abstract

A large number of weed seeds in the soil persist because of seed dormancy, and depletion of the seed bank through manipulation of seed dormancy has been suggested as one of the goals in weed control. This study was designed to investigate some of the factors which control dormancy and germination in Amaranthus retroflexus seeds. Germination studies were conducted at different temperatures, and either in continuous white light or in the dark. Higher temperatures increased germination and, although light interacted with temperature, its effect on germination varied with the temperature. In an attempt to determine changes in dormancy during dry storage, two lots of seeds were stored dry at different temperatures. Loss in dormancy increased with an increase in storage temperature and duration, but the time required for maximum germination varied according to the seedlot. Seeds germinated to higher percentages at high temperatures, but storage at higher temperatures and for prolonged duration resulted in seeds gaining the ability to germinate at lower temperatures. Changes in dormancy under field conditions were also examined. Seeds were buried at different depths and for different durations and they all lost viability with time, but this loss was greater in surface-sown and shallowly buried seeds. Dormancy was broken during cold periods and induced as warmer periods progressed. The effects of chemical stimulants on dormancy and germination were investigated. The response of seeds to ethephon and nitrate were assessed at different temperatures either at continuous white light or in the dark. Germination increased with the concentration of the chemicals, and a greater response was observed at lower temperatures. The response to light varied depending on temperature

Date of Award	1993
Original language	English