2 - Ecology of seed dormancy and germination in grasses

Summary

Introduction

The caryopsis (hereafter called seed) germination stage of the life cycle of grasses is of much interest to (1) agriculturalists establishing fields of cereals to be harvested for grain, (2) range and grassland managers revegetating overgrazed or otherwise disturbed lands, (3) weed specialists attempting to control weeds in crops, pastures, lawns, and even in natural plant communities and (4) ecologists investigating plant life histories and the dynamics of plant populations, communities and ecosystems. Through experience, agriculturalists, land managers, weed biologists and ecologists have come to realize that the seeds of many grasses are difficult to germinate; consequently, much research has been done on their dormancy and germination. In fact, Simpson (1990) published a book entitled Seed Dormancy in Grasses. However, this wonderful compendium of information was written from a physiological point of view and, therefore, does not devote much attention to the ecological perspective of seed germination.

The importance of knowing about the germination ecology of grasses is illustrated by the fact that in moist temperate regions, where precipitation is not a limiting factor per se, seeds of grasses germinate in (1) autumn, (2) spring, (3) autumn and spring, (4) summer, (5) spring, summer and autumn or (6) spring and summer, depending on the species (Brenchley & Warington, 1930; Roberts & Ricketts, 1979; Roberts & Potter, 1980). Further, in seasonally wet regions grasses have distinct germination phenology patterns (Mott, 1972, 1978; Silva & Ataroff, 1985; Evans, Kay & Young, 1975).