ARS | Publication request: Dormancy and germination of Chenopodium album seeds from different latitudes in Europe and the USA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 15, 2010
Publication Date: July 15, 2010
Citation: Murdock, A.J., Dogan, I., Nicholls, R.A., Gonzalez Andujar, J., Benoit, D., Davis, A.S., Forcella, F., Graziani, F., Grundy, A., Karlsson, L., Milberg, P., Neve, P., Rasmussen, I.A., Salonnen, J., Sera, B., Sousa, E., Tei, F., Torresen, K., Urbano, J. 2010. Dormancy and germination of Chenopodium album seeds from different latitudes in Europe and the USA [abstract]. European Weed Research Society Symposium Proceedings. 17:A0090.

Technical Abstract: Twelve seed lots of Chenopodium album agg. from Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA were characterized for responses to chilling, light, potassium nitrate and temperature. The research is part of a multi-location experiment performed by the EWRS Germination and Early Growth Working Group. Seeds were collected in two separate years and tested in common conditions in the Seed Science Laboratory at Reading, respectively. Results will be presented to emphasize differences and similarities observed between years and latitudes on the basis that environmental differences of seed maturation conditions in photoperiod and temperature could influence dormancy. Ultimately, the seed characterization reported here is intended to help explain differences observed in the field. Viability did not vary significantly with latitude, but dormancy did; seeds collected from the most southern latitudes in 2006 tended to be more dormant than those from further north. Surprisingly, the optimal constant temperature for germination was correlated with dormancy rather than latitude. The greater dormancy of the southern seed lots was associated with their germination being promoted by a combination of exposure to light and nitrate (0.01 mol/litre potassium nitrate) whereas additive effects were more common in the northern seedlots. Moist chilling for up to 49 days relieved some dormancy in a seed lot from the USA, but other seedlots were either unaffected or showed induced dormancy; the latter effect was unconnected with latitude. Results for both years will be described and implications for emergence in the field discussed.