Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201551

Title: Interaction of accelerated aging and p-coumaric acid on crimson clover seed germination

Author
item Williams, Robert
item Bartholomew, Paul

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2006
Publication Date: 2/5/2007
Citation: Williams, R.D., Bartholomew, P.W. 2007. Interaction of accelerated aging and p-coumaric acid on crimson clover seed germination [abstract]. Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only

Technical Abstract: Several phenolic acids, including p-coumaric acid, have been described as allelochemicals that may inhibit seed germination or seedling growth. Accelerated seed aging (high temperature (41 C) and high humidity (100%)) reduces germination and seedling vigor, and provides some indication as to seed germination and seedling performance under stress conditions (eg., temperature and water stress). Thus, accelerated aging provides a means to determine how seed "age" might affect germination or seedling vigor in response to a stressor. Here we compare responses of aged and non-aged seed of crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) to p-coumaric acid at 10-5 and 10-3 M concentrations. Results indicate that accelerated aging for 24 to 72 h delays and reduces seed germination. For example, after 3 days (20 C and dark conditions) germination was 95%, 85%, 30%, and 6% for seed aged for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Germination of non-aged seed was unaffected by the presence of p-coumaric acid. However, aged-seed germination was further delayed by exposure to p-coumaric, but there was no difference among treatments within a specific accelerated aging treatment. Preliminary results indicate that accelerated aging delays germination and that this delay is further extended by exposure to p-coumaric acid.