The “black box” of plant demography: How do seed type, climate and seed fungal communities affect grass seed germination?

A number of grazing and mowing treatments were imposed in spring on a mixed annual pasture mainly comprising capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) 36 per cent and barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) 27 per cent, with a small amount of (4 per cent) subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). The effects of treatments on flowering, seed setting and subsequent autumn production were followed, with special reference to any possible reduction in capeweed content. Seed numbers of all species were reduced by grazing throughout spring (barley grass was least affected) and by late mowing (severe reduction in the grasses), but early mowing had little effect. The mowing treatments all increased the content of capeweed and subterranean clover in the pasture next autumn and reduced the amount of grass, especially barley grass. Close grazing increased barley grass content and, if it continued throughout the spring, capeweed content also increased. Seed germination following rain in January varied considerably between treatments, but was not greater than 3 per cent on any. It was highest where dry pasture residues were present, and clover and capeweed seed germinated more than grass seed. It was concluded that spring management is unlikely to offer scope for reduction in capeweed content of pastures.

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Quality assessment of Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) seeds produced in Cameroon

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94246-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Njehoya Clémence-Aggy ◽

Ntchapda Fidèle ◽

Kana Jean Raphael ◽

Etchu Kingsley Agbor ◽

Sita R. Ghimire

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Quality Assessment ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Seed Viability ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

North West ◽

Grass Seed ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Livestock Farmers

AbstractUrochloa (syn. Brachiaria) is the most popular fodder of livestock farmers in Cameroon for hay and seed productions. Farmers in Cameroon have been producing Brachiaria seeds for decades for own uses and surplus are sold to neighbours, and to traders from Cameroon and neighbouring countries. However, there is no information available about qualities of these seeds. Fifteen Urochloa seeds samples were collected from farmers and/or government stations in five regions (Adamaoua, East, North, North West, and West) and analysed for major seed quality parameters along with seeds of improved Urochloa cultivar Basilisk imported from Brazil as a check. Study showed significant differences among treatments for various seed quality parameters tested (P < 0.0001). The highest thousand grains weight was recorded in Basilisk (5.685 g), followed by W12 (3.555 g), A05 (3.153 g) and N01 (2.655 g). Caryopsis number and caryopsis weight were highest in Basilisk followed by E09, A06, and W12. Of three conditions tested for seed germination, mean germination was the highest in greenhouse (7.39%) where Basilisk had the highest germination (25.5%) followed by N01 (18.50%), A05 (14.50%) and W12 (12.75%). The seed viability ranged from 18% (E09) to 81% (N01), and there were a positive and highly significant relationships between seed germination and viability traits (r = 0.883; P < 0.0001). This study showed a marked difference in seed quality parameters of Urochloa grass seeds produced in Cameroon, and the potential of developing Urochloa grass seed business in the Northern, Adamaoua and Western regions of Cameroon.

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Potensi Murraya keonigii sebagai Herbisida Alami

BIOSAINTROPIS (BIOSCIENCE-TROPIC) ◽

10.33474/e-jbst.v7i1.449 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 85-90

Author(s):

Lussana Rossita Dewi ◽

Praptining Rahayu

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Chemical Compounds ◽

Agricultural Products ◽

Organic Farms ◽

Grass Seed ◽

Natural Herbicides ◽

A Value ◽

Natural Herbicide ◽

Allelopathic Compounds ◽

Radicle Length

Various kinds of agricultural products are needed to support organic farms to produce superior quality products, one of it was natural herbicides. Some plants have the potential to become natural herbicides by producing chemical compounds, namely allelopathy which can inhibit the growth of surrounding plants and Murraya keonigii is one of it. This study aims to see the potential of M. keonigii to become a natural herbicide. Grass seeds were given M keonigii’s extract at a dose of 0 gr / l (control / M0), 50 gr / lt (M1), 60 gr / lt (M2), and 70 gr / lt (M3). The results showed that the aromatic or allelopathic compounds in M keonigii affected the germination. Germination was slower at doses of 60 gr / l (M2) and 70 gr / lt (M3) compared to controls (M0) and 50 gr / lt (M1). Radicle length did not increase rapidly in M2 and M3 treatment. Germination power of grass seeds in control and M0 had a value of 100% or all germinated, while M1 and M2 had 67% germination. The higher the dose of M keonigii extract, the slower the process of grass seed germination.

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Comparison of osmotic and allelopathic effects of grass leaf extracts on grass seed germination and radicle elongation

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/bf00010609 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 140 (2) ◽

pp. 315-319 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

D. A. Wardle ◽

K. S. Nicholson ◽

M. Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Grass Seed ◽

Radicle Elongation ◽

Allelopathic Effects

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Temporal changes in fungal communities from buckwheat seeds and their effects on seed germination and seedling secondary metabolism

Fungal Biology ◽

10.1016/j.funbio.2016.03.003 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 120 (5) ◽

pp. 666-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Eva Kovačec ◽

Matevž Likar ◽

Marjana Regvar

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Secondary Metabolism ◽

Temporal Changes ◽

Fungal Communities

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Effect of seed immersion in organic solvents on germinability

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600053806 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 563-570 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. A. Lewis ◽

G. C. Papavizas ◽

Nichole R. O'Neill

Keyword(s):

Polyethylene Glycol ◽

Seed Germination ◽

Sugar Beet ◽

Cotton Seed ◽

Soya Bean ◽

Optimum Conditions ◽

Seed Type ◽

Solvent Uptake ◽

Cotton Seeds

SUMMARYStudies on the effects of solvents on germinability of seeds of various crops established the optimum conditions for immersing seeds in several solvents. Reduction in germinability, in vitro and in soil, of seeds of cotton, bean, pea, soya bean, and sugar beet after immersion in acetone, dichloromethane, or ethanol for various periods up to 24 h depended upon the length of immersion and the seed type and solvent used. Soya-bean and sugar-beet seeds were the least sensitive to the solvents whereas bean and cotton seeds were the most sensitive. Various cultivars of the same crop behaved similarly. The amount of seed germination in vitro was similar to that in soil. Solvent combinations consisting of acetone with dimethylsulphoxide, dichloroethane. polyethylene glycol, or triethanolamine did not affect cotton-seed germination in soil whereas soya-bean seeds were adversely affected by some materials. The amount of solvent taken up by the seeds and the amount of oxidizable matter extracted by the solvent depended upon the solvent and the crop. Maximum absorption of solvent occurred within 1 h. The amount of oxidizable material diffusing from seeds immersed in solvents was not correlated with the amount of solvent uptake or extent of seed germination.

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