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Fluctuating temperature and light influence seed germination of goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Lambert B. McCarty
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0375

Abstract

This research examined the effect of duration of the warm cycle and number of fluctuating temperature/light cycles on goosegrass seed germination. Less than 10% goosegrass seed germination occurred at constant temperatures of 20, 25, and 35 C, while 99% germinated at daily fluctuating temperature regimes of 20 C for 16 h and 35 C for 8 h with light. Increasing the number of fluctuating temperature cycles increased goosegrass seed germination. Fluctuating temperature cycles with 22 h at 20 C and 2 h at 35 C with light strongly stimulated germination, but not as much as the cycle with 8 h at 35 C. Goosegrass seed germination ceased once the fluctuating temperature regime was discontinued, and constant 20 C with 8 h light daily was reimposed. Germination occurred only on resumption of fluctuating temperature cycles. Seed incubated for several weeks in a moist environment at constant 20 C had 81 to 91% germination with two cycles of 20 C for 16 h and 35 C for 8 h, compared to 14% for fresh seeds.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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