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Induced dormancy and colour polymorphism in seeds of the bull thistle Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Colleen Doucet  and
Paul B. Cavers
Colleen Doucet*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
Paul B. Cavers
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
*
*correspondence
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Abstract

To colonize newly disturbed areas, weedy species must disperse their seeds in space and/or in time. Cirsium vulgare has poor dispersal in space, but can form a persistent seed bank. Fresh seeds are capable of germinating in either light/dark or constant dark conditions under favourable diurnal temperatures of 25°C: 10°C. Despite this lack of dormancy, a large proportion of seeds do not germinate in the autumn after dispersal. Variation in germination requirements according to seed colour was also examined. Fresh seeds were placed under one of two overwintering treatments at 5°C, alternating light/dark or constant darkness. Some seeds of all colours: white, light, intermediate, dark and black germinated under these conditions. Six months later, ungerminated seeds subjected to the light/dark treatment did not require light for germination when placed under optimal temperatures. However, most seeds that had overwintered in constant darkness required light for germination. In the field, this induced dormancy would prevent seeds from germinating if buried or located in deep shade. Such seeds have the potential of forming a persistent seed bank. The proportion of dormant seeds did not appear to be associated with seed colour. Seeds incubated at 10°C following overwintering under light/dark conditions germinated to a higher percentage than seeds overwintered in darkness, regardless of the light conditions for germination. The results of this study help to explain the contradiction between delayed germination in the field and the lack of seed dormancy.

Keywords

bull thistleCirsium vulgaregerminationinduced dormancysecondary dormancyseed colour polymorphism
Type
Ecology
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , December 1997 , pp. 399 - 408
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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