Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:47:58.372Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of Ethylene and Nitrate to Break Seed Dormancy of Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Hargurdeep S. Saini ,
Pawan K. Bassi  and
Mary S. Spencer
Hargurdeep S. Saini
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Sci., Univ. Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
Pawan K. Bassi
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Sci., Univ. Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
Mary S. Spencer
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Sci., Univ. Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Effects of ethylene and KNO3 on the germination of dormant common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL) seed were studied under controlled environmental conditions. Ethylene, applied in the gaseous form or as an aqueous solution of ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), was able to overcome the dormancy of over 70% of the seed. The optimum concentrations of ethylene and ethephon were 10 μL·L-1 and 100 mg·L-1, respectively. The dormancy-breaking action of ethylene was dependent on the availability of nitrate. Hence, seed containing a high level of endogenous nitrate responded readily to ethylene, whereas nitrate-deficient seed required a combined application of ethylene and nitrate. Stimulation of seed germination by ethylene was observed in soil at all depths studied (up to 15 cm). The sensitivity of seed to ethylene increased upon imbibition to reach a peak on the third day, followed by a steady decline. Consequently, the greatest promotion of germination occurred when ethylene was administered during the first 3 to 4 days of imbibition. The loss of seed sensitivity was neither preempted nor overcome by an exogenous supply of KNO3, and may imply that the seed had passed into secondary dormancy. The present findings could form the basis for the use of ethylene to accomplish commercially significant promotion of germination in the field and thus improve the efficiency of the control of common lambsquarters.

Keywords

EthephongerminationCHEAL
Type
Physiology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry
Information
Weed Science , Volume 34 , Issue 4 , July 1986 , pp. 502 - 506
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 by the 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. Bassett, I. J. and Crompton, C. W. 1978. The biology of Canadian weeds. 32. Chenopodium album L. Can. J. Plant Sci. 58:1061–1072.Google Scholar
2. Bewley, J. D. and Black, M. 1982. Physiology and biochemistry of seeds in relation to germination. Vol. 2. Viability, Dormancy and Environmental Control. Page 187. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.Google Scholar
3. Eastwell, K. C., Bassi, P. K., and Spencer, M. E. 1978. Comparison and evaluation of methods for the removal of ethylene and other hydrocarbons from air for biological studies. Plant Physiol. 62:723–726.Google Scholar
4. Egley, G. H. 1983. New methods for breaking seed dormancy and their application in weed control. Pages 143–151 in Smith, A. E., ed. Canadian Plains Proceedings 12, Wild Oat Symposium: Proceedings. Univ. Regina.Google Scholar
5. Eplee, R. E. 1975. Ethylene: A witchweed seed germination stimulant. Weed Sci. 23:433–436.Google Scholar
6. Fawcett, R. S. and Slife, F. W. 1978. Effects of field application of nitrate on weed seed germination and dormancy. Weed Sci. 23:433–436.Google Scholar
7. Karssen, C. M. 1976. Two sites of hormonal action during germination of Chenopodium album seeds. Physiol. Plant. 36:264–270.Google Scholar
8. Lewis, J. 1973. Longevity of crop and weed seeds: survival after 20 years in soil. Weed Res. 13:179–191.Google Scholar
9. Olatoye, S. T. and Hall, M. A. 1972. Interaction of ethylene and light on dormant weed seeds. Pages 233–249 in Heydecker, W., ed. Seed Ecology. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
10. Reisenauer, H. M. 1966. Mineral nutrients in soil solution. Pages 507–508 in Altman, P. L. and Dittmer, D. S., eds. Environmental Biology. Fed. Am. Soc. for Exp. Biology, Bethesda, MD.Google Scholar
11. Roberts, E. H. and Smith, R. D. 1977. Dormancy and the pentose phosphate pathway. Pages 385–411 in Khan, A. A., ed. The Physiology and Biochemistry of Seed Dormancy and Germination. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.Google Scholar
12. Saini, H. S., Bassi, P. K., and Spencer, M. S. 1985. Seed germination in Chenopodium album L. – Relationships between nitrate and the effects of plant hormones. Plant Physiol. 77:940–943.Google Scholar
13. Saini, H. S., Bassi, P. K., and Spencer, M. S. 1985. Further evidence for the dependence of ethylene effects on seed germination of Chenopodium album, on the availability of nitrate. Plant Physiol. Suppl. 77:120.Google Scholar
14. Saini, H. S., Bassi, P. K., and Spencer, M. S. 1985. Seed germination in Chenopodium album L. – Further evidence for the dependence of the effects of growth regulators on nitrate availability. Plant Cell and Environ. 8:707–711.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Taylorson, R. B. 1979. Response of weed seeds to ethylene and related hydrocarbons. Weed Sci. 27:7–10.Google Scholar