Exploring the impact of a non-native seed predator on the seed germination of its non-native host

Author(s):  
Eva Horvat ◽  
Nina Sajna
Weed Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadeem Iqbal ◽  
Sudheesh Manalil ◽  
Bhagirath S. Chauhan ◽  
Steve W. Adkins

AbstractSesbania [Sesbania cannabina(Retz.) Pers.] is a problematic emerging weed species in Australian cotton-farming systems. However, globally, no information is available regarding its seed germination biology, and better understanding will help in devising superior management strategies to prevent further infestations. Laboratory and glasshouse studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of various environmental factors such as light, temperature, salt, osmotic and pH stress, and burial depth on germination and emergence of two Australian biotypes ofS. cannabina. Freshly harvested seeds of both biotypes possessed physical dormancy. A boiling-water scarification treatment (100±2 C) of 5-min duration was the optimum treatment to overcome this dormancy. Once dormancy was broken, the Dalby biotype exhibited a greater germination (93%) compared with the St George biotype (87%). The nondormant seeds of both biotypes showed a neutral photoblastic response to light and dark conditions, with germination marginally improved (6%) under illumination. Maximum germination of both biotypes occurred under an alternating temperature regime of 30/20 and 35/25 C and under constant temperatures of 32 or 35 C, with no germination at 8 or 11 C. Seed germination of both biotypes decreased linearly from 87% to 14% with an increase in moisture stress from 0.0 to −0.8 MPa, with no germination possible at −1.0 MPa. There was a gradual decline in germination for both biotypes when imbibed in a range of salt solutions of 25 to 250 mM, with a 50% reduction in germination occurring at 150 mM. Both biotypes germinated well under a wide range of pH values (4.0 to 10.0), with maximum germination (94%) at pH 9.0. The greatest emergence rate of the Dalby (87%) and St George (78%) biotypes was recorded at a burial depth of 1.0 cm, with no emergence at 16.0 cm. Deep tillage seems to be the best management strategy to stopS. cannabina’s emergence and further infestation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) fields. The findings of this study will be helpful to cotton agronomists in devising effective, sustainable, and efficient integrated weed management strategies for the control ofS. cannabinain cotton cropping lands.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab IbrahimPour ◽  
Alireza KhavaninZadeh ◽  
Ruhollah Taghizadeh mehrjardi ◽  
Hans De Boeck ◽  
Alvina Gul

Abstract Destructive mining operations are affecting large areas of natural ecosystems, especially in arid lands. The present study aims at investigating the impact of iron mine exploitation on vegetation and soil in Nodoushan (Yazd province, central Iran). Based on the dominant wind, topography, slope, vegetation and soil of the area, soil and vegetation parameters close to ​the mine were recorded and analyzed according to the distance from the mine. In order to obtain the vegetation cover, a transect and plot on the windward and leeward side of the mine, with 100 m intervals and three replicates at each sampling location was used, yielding 96 soil samples. The amount of dust on the vegetation, the seed weight and seed germination rate of Artemisia sp. as the dominant species within the area, and the soil microbial respiration were measured. The relationship between vegetation cover and distance from the mine was not linear, which was due to an interplay between pollution from the mine and local grazing, while other factors did increase or decrease linearly. The results showed that, as the distance from the mine increased, the weight of 1000 seeds of Artemisia sp. was significantly increased from 271 to 494 mg and seed germination rate and soil microbial respiration were significantly increased from 11.7 to 48.4 % and from 4.5 to 5.9 mg CO2 g− 1 soil day− 1 respectively, while the amount of dust significantly decreased from 43.5 to 6 mg (g plant)−1 between the distance of 100 to 600 m from the mine in the leeward direction. A similar trend was observed in the windward side, though negative effects were lower compared to the same distance along the leeward sample locations. The direct and indirect effects on plant growth and health from mining impacts generally decreased linearly with increasing distance from the mine, up to at least 600 m. Our study serves as a showcase for the potential of bio-indicators as a cost-effective method for assessing impacts of mining activities on the surrounding environment.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Carrera-Castaño ◽  
Julián Calleja-Cabrera ◽  
Mónica Pernas ◽  
Luis Gómez ◽  
Luis Oñate-Sánchez

The ability of a seed to germinate and establish a plant at the right time of year is of vital importance from an ecological and economical point of view. Due to the fragility of these early growth stages, their swiftness and robustness will impact later developmental stages and crop yield. These traits are modulated by a continuous interaction between the genetic makeup of the plant and the environment from seed production to germination stages. In this review, we have summarized the established knowledge on the control of seed germination from a molecular and a genetic perspective. This serves as a “backbone” to integrate the latest developments in the field. These include the link of germination to events occurring in the mother plant influenced by the environment, the impact of changes in the chromatin landscape, the discovery of new players and new insights related to well-known master regulators. Finally, results from recent studies on hormone transport, signaling, and biophysical and mechanical tissue properties are underscoring the relevance of tissue-specific regulation and the interplay of signals in this crucial developmental process.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Song ◽  
P. P. Zhang ◽  
X. L. Gao ◽  
S. X. Xu ◽  
Q. Zhou ◽  
...  

<p class="Abstract">The soil sickness of Adzuki bean [<em>Vigna angularis </em>(Willd.) Ohwi &amp; H. Ohashi] have been getting attention seriously under a continuously mono-cropping management-system in China. To investigate the allelopathy of rhizosphere soil and plant of Adzuki bean, culture dish and pot experiments were conducted. The compounds in the products were identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).The aqueous extracts from rhizospheric soil and whole plant inhibited seed index (seed germination and seed potential) and plant growth under different degrees, and it showed concentration gradient effect on the inhibition of seed germination. Inhibition was stronger with increasment in extract concentration with the highest effect at 0.16 parts aqueous extract to 1 parts deionized water (0.16g·mL<sup>-1</sup>). The impact on growth varied among aqueous extracts from rhizospheric soil and the whole plant. Five phenolic compounds, cinnamic, phthalic, <em>p</em>-hydroxybenzoic, and isobutyricand glutaric acids, were detected from the rhizosphere soil and plant extract of Adzuki bean by HPLC method. Cinnamic, phthalic, and <em>p</em>-hydroxybenzoicacids were higher than that of the other phenolic acids. This result suggests that autotoxicity effects of phenolics on Adzuki bean probably happen in continuous mono-cropping systems.</p>


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Battaglia ◽  
JB Reid

The correlation between microsite and seedling numbers was determined in field sowings, and the impact of microsites on germination and seedling survival tested in artificial seedbeds in the glasshouse. Small scale variation in soil conditions, at the scale of tens of centimetres, markedly affected the germination and establishment of Eucalyptus delegatensis R.T.Baker seeds and seedlings. Under conditions of limiting soil moisture, microsites that afforded protection, and probably resulted in increased humidity, caused a marked increase in germination number and rate. The mean survival time was significantly higher on these protected microsites than on less protected microsites, or on microsites that restricted root penetration. The importance of this variability in microtopography was strongly influenced by season and the level of environmental stress, and was diminished as seedlings aged. Due to the different requirements for seed germination and seedling growth, a favourable microsite for germination was not necessarily a favourable site for seedling survival. A comparison of seed and seedling responses to water stress indicated that for E. delegatensis, at least, selection due to microsite differences at the time of germination may not have an impact on the developmental characteristics of the seedlings.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Matwijczuk ◽  
K. Kornarzyński ◽  
S. Pietruszewski

Effect of magnetic field on seed germination and seedling growth of sunflowerThe impact of a variable magnetic field, magnetically treated water and a combination of both these factors on the germination of seeds and the final mass at the initial stage of growth sunflower plants was presented. Investigations were carried out in pots filled with sand, tin an air-conditioned plant house with no access to daylight using fluorescent light as illumination. A statistical significance positive impact was achieved for the samples subjected to the interaction of both stimulating factors simultaneously, the magnetic field and the impact of treated water several times on the speed of seed germination and final plant mass. Negative impacts were obtained for the majority of the test cases, for the magnetically treated water, the short duration of activity of the magnetic field and for the connection of the magnetic field and low-flow times.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Jedlička ◽  
Oleg Paulen ◽  
Štefan Ailer

AbstractIn the study regarding with tomatoes, the impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on seed germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) after treatment before sowing, as well as the growth following electromagnetic stimulation of young plants at a time before planting in the field, and fruittraits was investigated. In the experiments conducted in two consecutive years (2012 and 2013), we followed the time of seed germination of tomato variety “Pavlina”, plant growth and the fruitsize. Magnetization of seeds and young plants was carried out in laboratory conditions, and plant growth and fruits were followed in field conditions where plants were grown on experimental plots (25.0 m2). The plants were grown in accordance with the standards of agricultural practice for tomato. At the generative phase, fruits were collected at regular intervals, and their number and weight were evaluated. Low frequency electromagnetic fields acting at the three inductance levels (20, 40 and 60 mT) and exposure of 20 minutes a day with frequency of 50 Hz, significantly influenced the germination, plant growth and fruitsize of the studied tomato variety.


2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Rowarth ◽  
J. G. Hampton ◽  
M. J. Hill

Web Ecology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Auld ◽  
M. K. J. Ooi

Abstract. We examine the patterns of germination response to fire in the fire-prone flora of the Sydney basin, south-eastern Australia, using examples from several decades of research. The flora shows a strong response to fire-related germination cues. Most species show an interaction between heat and smoke, a number respond only to heat, whilst a few are likely to respond only to smoke. Many recruit in the first 12 months after fire and show no obvious seasonal patterns of recruitment, whilst several species have a strong seasonal germination requirement, even in this essentially aseasonal rainfall region. Key challenges remaining include designing future seed germination studies within the context of informing the germination response surface to smoke and heat interactions, and incorporation of the impact of varying soil moisture on seed germination post-fire, including its affect on resetting of seed dormancy. An understanding of the resilience of species to frequent fire also requires further work, to identify species and functional types most at risk. This work must ideally be integrated within the framework of the management of fire regimes that will change under a changing climate. We suggest that the functional classification of plant types in relation to fire could be enhanced by a consideration of both the type of germination response to fire (type of cues required) and the timing of the response (seasonally driven in response to seed dormancy characteristics, or independent of season). We provide a simplified version of such an addition to functional trait classification in relation to fire.


Author(s):  
M. Massimi

Seed size may influence seed germination, and seedling vigor. Few investigations are available about the effect of seed size on barley seedling vigor in Jordan. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of seed size on germination percentage, seedling dry weight, seedling vigor index, and germination percentage after accelerated aging in barley. Three seed sizes i.e. large, medium, and small (having diameter of > 2.75 millimeter, 2.5 - 2.75 millimeter, and less than 2.5 millimeter, respectively) were tested in the experiment. Seed quality for different seed size categories was evaluated in the laboratory by measuring seed germination, germination after accelerated aging, as well seedling dry weight and vigor index. Results showed significant differences for large seeds in germination percentages, seedling dry weight and vigor index. It may be concluded that large seed size of barley showed best quality.


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