Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:35:47.341Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Germination of Medusahead in Response to Temperature and Afterripening

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

James A. Young
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Raymond A. Evans
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Richard E. Eckert Jr.
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Requirements for germination of 23 medusahead (Taeniatherum asperum (Sim.) Nevski) selections were investigated in relation to temperature and afterripening requirements, and were compared with the germination characteristics of other grasses. Medusahead germinated best at 10 to 15 C. Germination percentages were markedly lower at 20 and 25 C. Unlike medusahead, germination of all competing or replacement species tested was markedly decreased at lower temperatures (10 C). Above 15 C, medusahead selections had strong afterripening requirements which decreased over time. Shortly after maturity, medusahead caryopses germinated only at low temperatures (10 and 15 C). Germination temperatures became less dominant after a 180-day afterripening period.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1968 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. Allard, W. W. 1965. Genetic Systems Associated with Colonizing Ability in Predominantly Self-Pollinated Species. Academic Press, New York. 562 p.Google Scholar
2. Bleak, A. T. 1959. Germination characteristics of seed under snow. J. Range Manage. 12:298302.Google Scholar
3. Eckert, R. E. Jr. and Evans, R. A. 1967. A chemical fallow-technique for control of downy brome and establishment of perennial grasses on rangeland. J. Range Manage. 20:3541.Google Scholar
4. Ellern, J. S. and Tadmor, N. H. 1966. Germination of range plant seeds at fixed temperatures. J. Range Manage. 19:341345.Google Scholar
5. Ellern, J. S. and Tadmor, N. H. 1967. Germination of range plant seeds at alternating temperatures. J. Range Manage. 20:7277.Google Scholar
6. Evans, R. A., Eckert, R. E. Jr., and Kay, B. L. 1967. Wheatgrass establishment with paraquat and tillage on downy brome ranges. Weeds 15:5055.Google Scholar
7. Hull, A. C. Jr. 1960. Winter germination of intermediate wheatgrass on mountain lands. J. Range Manage. 13:257260.Google Scholar
8. Laude, H. M. 1956. Germination of freshly harvested seed of some western range species. J. Range Manage. 9:126129.Google Scholar
9. Major, J., McKell, C. M., and Berry, L. J. 1960. Improvement of medusahead infested rangelands. California Agr. Ext. Ser. Leafl. 123. 2 p.Google Scholar
10. Mayer, A. M. and Poljakoff-Mayber, . 1963. The Germination of Seeds. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 236 p.Google Scholar
11. McKell, C. M., Robison, J. P., and Major, J. 1962. Ecotypic variation in medusahead, and introduced annual grass. Ecology 43:686698.Google Scholar
12. McGinnies, W. J. 1960. Effect of moisture stress and temperature on germination of six range grasses. Agron. J. 52:159162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Murphy, A. H. and Turner, D. 1959. A study of the germination of medusahead seeds. California Dep. of Agr. Bull. 48:610.Google Scholar
14. Newman, E. I. 1963. Factors controlling the germination date of winter annuals. J. Ecol. 51:625639.Google Scholar
15. Sharp, L. A., Tisdale, W. W., and Hironaka, M. 1957. Viability of medusahead seed collected in Idaho. J. Range Manage. 10:123126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Steel, R. G. and Torie, H. 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. 481 p.Google Scholar