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The Wounding Response of Dormant Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) Seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Gerald R. Leather
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric. Foreign Disease-Weed Sci. Res., Ft. Detrick, Bldg. 1301, Frederick, MD 21702
Shi-Jean Sung
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric. Foreign Disease-Weed Sci. Res., Ft. Detrick, Bldg. 1301, Frederick, MD 21702
Maynard G. Hale
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric. Foreign Disease-Weed Sci. Res., Ft. Detrick, Bldg. 1301, Frederick, MD 21702

Abstract

Induction of germination in dormant barnyardgrass seeds by wounding was investigated. Previous research indicated that a volatile compound was emitted during imbibition of wounded caryopses. When wounded caryopses were submerged in agar, total germination and speed of germination were stimulated, and the stimulation was dependent upon the concentration of agar. A twofold increase in germination occurred in 1% agar versus water, and a fivefold increase with caryopses placed in 5% agar. When wounded caryopses were imbibed, there was a fourfold increase in respiration over that of intact caryopses after 1 h. This increased rate of respiration of wounded caryopses continued for 7 h, while there was a gradual increase in respiration of intact caryopses. Carbon dioxide induced intact dormant caryopses to germinate but was not effective in stimulating germination of the seed (spikelet). High levels of abscisic acid found in the hulls of dormant seeds may have prevented the action of carbon dioxide. These results suggest that increased respiration resulting from wounding provides elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the microenvironment of the seed, thus stimulating germination. Removal of the hulls is necessary for germination even in high levels of carbon dioxide.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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