Seed Germination Ecology of Catchweed Bedstraw (Galium aparine)

Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 634-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongchun Wang ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
Liyao Dong ◽  
Yuanlai Lou

The influence of temperature, light, solution pH, water stress, salt stress, and burial depth on seed germination and seedling emergence of catchweed bedstraw and the sensitivity of that weed to commonly available herbicides in China were studied in laboratory and greenhouse. Germination occurred at day/night temperatures from 5/0 C to 30/25 C, with optimum germination at 15/10 C. Catchweed bedstraw germinated equally well under a 12-h photoperiod and continuous darkness; however, a 24-h photoperiod inhibited seed germination. Catchweed bedstraw seed is moderately sensitive to osmotic potential and salt stress, with 15 and 3% germination rates at an osmotic potential of −0.5 Mpa and salinity level of 120 mM, respectively. Maximum seed germination was observed in near neutral pH; germination was greater than 80% over a broad pH range from 5 to 8. Seedling emergence of the seeds buried at a depth of 1 cm was higher (74%) than those placed on the soil surface (20%), but declined with burial depth increasing. Few (10%) seedlings emerged when seeds were placed at a depth of 5 cm. Bensulfuron-methyl, and ethametsulfuron-methyl applied PRE and tribenuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, and florasulam applied POST can be used to provide greater than 80% control of catchweed bedstraw. The results of this study have contributed to more complete understanding of the germination and emergence of catchweed bedstraw.

Weed Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Zhao ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
Wenlei Guo ◽  
Lele Zhang ◽  
Lu’an Ge ◽  
...  

Shortawn foxtail is an invasive grass weed infesting winter wheat and canola production in China. A better understanding of the germination ecology of shortawn foxtail would help to develop better control strategies for this weed. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions to evaluate the effects of various abiotic factors, including temperature, light, pH, osmotic stress, salt concentration, and planting depth, on seed germination and seedling emergence of shortawn foxtail. The results showed that the seed germination rate was greater than 90% over a wide range of constant (5 to 25C) and alternating (15/5 to 35/25C) temperatures. Maximum germination occurred at 20C or 25/15C, and no germination occurred at 35C. Light did not appear to have any effect on seed germination. Shortawn foxtail germination was 27% to 99% over a pH range of 4 to 10, and higher germination was obtained at alkaline pH values ranging from 7 to 10. Seed germination was sensitive to osmotic potential and completely inhibited at an osmotic potential of −0.6 MPa, but it was tolerant to salinity: germination even occurred at 200 mM NaCl (5%). Seedling emergence was highest (98%) when seeds were placed on the soil surface but declined with the increasing burial depth. No seedlings emerged when seeds were buried 6-cm deep. Deep tillage could be an effective measure to limit seed germination from increased burial depth. The results of this study will lead to a better understanding of the requirements for shortawn foxtail germination and emergence and will provide information that could contribute to its control.


Weed Science ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 854-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhagirath S. Chauhan ◽  
Gurjeet Gill ◽  
Christopher Preston

Annual sowthistle has become more abundant under no-till systems in southern Australia. Increased knowledge of germination biology of annual sowthistle would facilitate development of effective weed control programs. The effects of environmental factors on germination and emergence of annual sowthistle seeds were examined in laboratory and field experiments. Seeds of annual sowthistle were able to germinate over a broad range of temperatures (25/15, 20/12, and 15/9 C day/night temperatures). Seed germination was favored by light; however, some germination occurred in the dark as well. Greater than 90% of seeds germinated at a low level of salinity (40 mM NaCl), and some seeds germinated even at 160 mM NaCl (7.5%). Germination decreased from 95% to 11% as osmotic potential increased from 0 to −0.6 MPa and was completely inhibited at osmotic potential greater than −0.6 MPa. Seed germination was greater than 90% over a pH range of 5 to 8, but declined to 77% at pH 10. Seedling emergence was the greatest (77%) for seeds present on the soil surface but declined with depth, and no seedlings emerged from a soil depth of 5 cm. In another experiment in which seeds were after-ripened at different depths in a field, seed decay was greater on the soil surface than at 2 or 5 cm depth. At the end of the growing season, there was a much greater persistence of buried seed (32 to 42%) than seeds present on the soil surface (8%). Greater persistence of buried seed could be due to dormancy enforced by dark in this species.


Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shouhui Wei ◽  
Chaoxian Zhang ◽  
Xiangju Li ◽  
Hailan Cui ◽  
Hongjuan Huang ◽  
...  

Buffalobur is a noxious and invasive weed species native to North America. The influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of buffalobur were evaluated in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The germination of buffalobur seeds occurred at temperatures ranging from 12.5 to 45 C, with optimum germination attained between 25 and 35 C. Buffalobur seeds germinated equally well under both a 14-h photoperiod and continuous darkness; however, prolonged light exposure (≥ 16 h) significantly inhibited the seed germination. Buffalobur seed is rather tolerant to low water potential and high salt stress, as germination was 28 and 52% at osmotic potentials of −1.1 MPa and salinity level of 160 mM, respectively. Medium pH has no significant effect on seed germination; germination was greater than 95% over a broad pH range from 3 to 10. Seedling emergence was higher (85%) for seeds buried at a soil depth of 2 cm than for those placed on the soil surface (32%), but no seedlings emerged when burial depth reached 8 cm. Knowledge of germination biology of buffalobur obtained in this study will be useful in predicting the potential distribution area and developing effective management strategies for this species.


Weed Science ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 989-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford H. Koger ◽  
Krishna N. Reddy ◽  
Daniel H. Poston

Field, laboratory, and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the seed production potential and effect of environmental factors on germination, emergence, and survival of texasweed. Texasweed produced an average of 893 seed per plant, and 90% were viable. Seed exhibited dormancy, and prechilling did not release dormancy. Percent germination ranged from 56% for seed subjected to no prechilling to 1% for seed prechilled at 5 C for 140 d. Seed remained viable during extended prechilling conditions, with 80% of seed viable after 140 d of prechilling. Texasweed seed germinated over a range of 20 to 40 C, with optimum germination (54%) occurring with a fluctuating 40/30 C temperature regime. Seed germinated with fluctuating 12-h light/dark and constant dark conditions. Texasweed seed germinated over a broad range of pH, osmotic potential, and salt concentrations. Seed germination was 31 to 62% over a pH range from 4 to 10. Germination of texasweed ranged from 9 to 56% as osmotic potential decreased from − 0.8 MPa to 0 (distilled water). Germination was greater than 52% at less than 40 mM NaCl concentrations and lowest (27%) at 160 mM NaCl. Texasweed seedlings emerged from soil depths as deep as 7.5 cm (7% emergence), but emergence was > 67% for seed placed on the soil surface or at a 1-cm depth. Texasweed seed did not germinate under saturated or flooded conditions, but seed survived flooding and germinated (23 to 25%) after flood removal. Texasweed seedlings 2.5 to 15 cm tall were not affected by emersion in 10-cm-deep flood for up to 14 d. These results suggest that texasweed seed is capable of germinating and surviving in a variety of climatic and edaphic conditions, and that flooding is not a viable management option for emerged plants of texasweed.


Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhagirath S. Chauhan ◽  
David E. Johnson

Junglerice is one of the most serious grass weeds of rice in the tropics. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and screenhouse to determine the influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of junglerice in the Philippines. In the laboratory, germination was stimulated by light, suggesting that seeds of this species are positively photoblastic. The tested temperatures (35/25, 30/20, and 25/15 C alternating day/night temperatures), however, did not influence germination. Germination in the laboratory was not affected by a soil pH range of 4 to 9, but was decreased by salinity (> 50 mM NaCl) and moisture stress (< −0.2 MPa osmotic potential). In the screenhouse, germination of junglerice was greatest (97%) for seeds at the soil surface, but emergence declined exponentially with increasing seed burial depth, and no seedlings emerged from seeds buried at 6 cm. In pots, seedling emergence declined markedly with the addition of rice residue to the soil surface at rates equivalent to 4 to 6 tonnes (t) ha−1. As germination of junglerice was strongly stimulated by light, and seedling emergence was optimal at shallow burial depths, this species is likely to be problematic in reduced tillage systems.


Weed Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Rao ◽  
Liyao Dong ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Hongjun Zhang

The influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of American sloughgrass was studied in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The optimum temperature for seed germination was 10 C and light was not necessary. Seed germination was sensitive to osmotic potential and completely inhibited at an osmotic potential of −0.6 MPa, but it was quite tolerant to salinity: germination occurred even at 160 mM NaCl (36%). More than 80% of seeds germinated at pH values ranging between 4 and 10. Seedling emergence was highest when seeds were placed on the soil surface (91%) but declined with burial depth. Few (3%) seedlings emerged when seeds were planted at a depth of 5 cm. Information gained in this study will lead to a better understanding of the requirements for American sloughgrass germination and emergence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navneet Kaur Mutti ◽  
Gulshan Mahajan ◽  
Bhagirath Singh Chauhan

Echinochloa colona L. (Link) (awnless barnyard grass) is one of the top three most problematic weeds of summer crops in Australia. This weed has evolved resistance to glyphosate. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on the germination and seedling emergence of a glyphosate-resistant (GR) and a glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotype of E. colona. The two biotypes had similar germination and emergence responses to light and temperature conditions, water stress, solution pH, sorghum residue cover and seed burial depth. Light stimulated germination more than dark conditions, and seeds germinated at a wide range of alternating day/night temperatures, from 20°C/10°C to 35°C/25°C, whereas no seeds germinated at 15°C/5°C. These results suggest that E. colona can emerge in spring, summer and autumn in Queensland. The sodium chloride concentration required to inhibit 50% germination was greater for the GR biotype (209 mm) than the GS biotype (174 mm). Seed germination was not affected by pH in the range 4–10. Water stress reduced germination by 50% at an osmotic potential of –0.44 MPa. In a shade-house study, retention of sorghum residue cover on the soil surface reduced the seedling emergence of E. colona. Emergence was 70% in the absence of crop residue, whereas a residue amount of 8 t ha–1 reduced emergence to 47%. Emergence was greatest for seeds placed on the soil surface and declined linearly with increasing burial depth; no seedlings emerged from 8 cm depth. The GR biotype had higher germination than the GS biotype under high sodium chloride concentrations; therefore, this biotype may be highly competitive with crops under highly saline conditions. Because germination was high on the soil surface and was stimulated by light, this weed will remain problematic under no-till farming systems in Australia.


Weed Science ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Husrev Mennan ◽  
Mathieu Ngouajio

Catchweed bedstraw and wild mustard each produce two populations per year: a winter population (WP) in June, and a summer population (SP) in September. Experiments were conducted to determine whether the WP and SP differ in seed mass and seasonal germination. Seeds of both weeds were buried at 0, 5, 10, and 20 cm in cultivated fields, and retrieved at monthly intervals for 24 mo for germination tests in the laboratory. Additionally, seedling emergence from seeds buried at 0, 5, and 10 cm in the field was evaluated for 1 yr. Seeds from the WP were heavier than those from the SP for both species. Germination of exhumed seeds was affected by burial depth and by seed population. It was highest for seeds that remained on the soil surface and declined with increasing depth of burial. The WP of catchweed bedstraw produced two germination peaks per year, whereas the SP and all populations of wild mustard had only one peak. The WP of both weeds germinated earlier than the SP. Seedling emergence for both species in the field was greater for the WP than for the SP. Increasing soil depth reduced seedling emergence of both the WP and SP of wild mustard and affected only the WP of catchweed bedstraw. We conclude that the WP and SP of catchweed bedstraw and wild mustard seeds used in this study differed in seed mass, seasonal germination, and seedling emergence. The ability of a WP to produce large seeds that germinate early and have two germination peaks per year could make these populations a serious problem in cropping systems.


Weed Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace E-K. Bolfrey-Arku ◽  
Bhagirath S. Chauhan ◽  
David E. Johnson

Itchgrass is a weed of many crops throughout the tropics and one of the most important grass weeds of rainfed rice. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and screenhouse to determine the effects of light, alternating day/night temperatures, high temperature pretreatment, water stress, seed burial depth, and rice residue on seed germination and seedling emergence of itchgrass in the Philippines. Two populations were evaluated and the results were consistent for both populations. Germination in the light/dark regime was greater at alternating day/night temperatures of 25/15 C than at 35/25, 30/20, or 20/10 C. Light was not a requirement for germination, but a light/dark regime increased germination by 96%, across temperature and population. A 5-min high temperature pretreatment for 50% inhibition of maximum itchgrass germination ranged from 145 to 151 C with no germination when seeds were exposed to ≥ 180 C. The osmotic potential required for 50% inhibition of maximum germination was −0.6 MPa for itchgrass, although some seeds germinated at −0.8 MPa. Seedling emergence was greatest for seeds placed on the soil surface, and emergence declined with increasing soil burial depth; no seedlings emerged from seeds buried at 10 cm. The addition of rice residue to soil surface in pots at rates equivalent to 4 to 6 Mg ha−1reduced itchgrass seedling emergence. Since seedling emergence was greatest at shallow depths and germination was stimulated by light, itchgrass may become a problem in systems where soil is cultivated at shallow depths. Knowledge gained in this study could contribute to developing components of integrated weed management strategies for itchgrass.


Weed Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Aseemjot Singh ◽  
Gulshan Mahajan ◽  
Bhagirath Singh Chauhan

Abstract Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) is a widespread weed of the southeastern cropping region of Australia. Seed germination ecology of S. arvensis populations selected from different climatic regions may differ due to adaptative traits. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature, light, radiant heat, soil moisture, salt concentration, and burial depth on seed germination and seedling emergence of two [Queensland (Qld) population: tropical region; and Victoria (Vic) population: temperate region] populations of S. arvensis. Both populations germinated over a wide range of day/night (12 h/12 h) temperatures (15/5 to 35/25 C), and had the highest germination at 30/20 C. Under complete darkness, the Qld population (61%) had higher germination than the Vic population (21%); however, under the light/dark regime, both populations had similar germination (78 to 86%). At 100 C pretreatment for 5 min, the Qld population (44%) had higher germination than the Vic population (13%). Germination of both populations was nil when given pretreatment at 150 and 200 C. The Vic population was found tolerant to high osmotic and salt stress compared with the Qld population. At an osmotic potential of −0.4 MPa, germination of Qld and Vic populations was reduced by 85% and 42%, respectively, compared with their respective control. At 40, 80, and 160 mM sodium chloride, germination of the Qld population was lower than the Vic population. Averaged over the populations, seedling emergence was highest (52%) from a burial depth of 1 cm and was nil from 8 cm depth. Differential germination behaviors of both populations to temperature, light, radiant heat, water stress, and salt stress suggests that populations of S. arvensis may have undergone differential adaptation. Knowledge gained from this study will assist in developing suitable control measures for this weed species to reduce the soil seedbank.


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