Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T22:56:06.513Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Germination and Persistence of Achenes of Scotch Thistle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

James A. Young  and
Raymond A. Evans
James A. Young
Affiliation:
Plant Sci. Res. Div., Agr. Res. Ser., U. S. Dep. of Agr., Univ. of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89507
Raymond A. Evans
Affiliation:
Plant Sci. Res. Div., Agr. Res. Ser., U. S. Dep. of Agr., Univ. of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89507
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Achenes of Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium L.) contain a water-soluble germination inhibitor and are sensitive to differences in light quality. Germination of these achenes can be enhanced by the addition of 0.14 mmole of gibberellic acid and 1.0 mmole of potassium nitrate to the substrate. Dissected embryos exhibit germination responses similar to those observed for achenes. Naturally-distributed achenes recovered from the soil in the field increased in germination under fluorescent light and after washing. Achenes will not germinate on the surface of a constant-moisture-supplying substrate when exposed to an unsaturated atmosphere. The physical environment of the seedbed apparently is paramount in controlling germination and persistence of achenes of Scotch thistle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , January 1972 , pp. 98 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Evans, R. A. and Young, J. A. 1970. Plant litter and establishment of alien annual weed species in rangeland communities. Weed Sci. 18:697–703.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Hooper, J. F., Young, J. A., and Evans, R. A. 1970. Economic evaluation of Scotch thistle suppression. Weed Sci. 18:583–585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Harper, J. L., Williams, J. T., and Sager, G. R. 1965. The behavior of seeds in the soil. I. The heterogeneity of soil surfaces and its role in determining the establishment of plants. J. of Ecol. 539:273–286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Sauer, J. and Struik, G. 1964. A possible ecological relation between soil disturbances, light-flash, and seed germination. Ecology 45:884–886.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Scifres, C. J. and McCarty, M. K. 1969. Some factors affecting germination and seedling growth of Scotch thistle. Res. Bull. 228. Univ. of Nebraska, College of Agr., Lincoln, Nebraska. 29 p.Google Scholar
6. Taylorson, R. B. 1970. Changes in dormancy and viability of weed seeds in soils. Weed Sci. 18:265–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Toole, E. H., Hendricks, S. B., Borthwick, H. A., and Toole, V. K. 1956. Physiology of seed germination. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 7:299–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Wesson, G. and Wareing, P. F. 1967. Light requirements of buried seed. Nature 213:600–601.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Young, J. A. and Evans, R. A. 1970. The germination of Dyers woad. Weed Sci. 19:76–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Young, J. A., Evans, R. A., Gifford, R. O., and Eckert, R. E. Jr. 1970. Germination characteristics of three species of Cruciferae . Weed Sci. 18:41–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Young, J. A. and Evans, R. A. 1969. Control and ecological studies of Scotch thistle. Weed Sci. 17:60–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar