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Germination of Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

J. M. Hutchison  and
F. M. Ashton
J. M. Hutchison
Affiliation:
Dep. Bot. Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616
F. M. Ashton
Affiliation:
Dep. Bot. Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616
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Abstract

Germination of field dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yunck.) was investigated in field and laboratory studies. Germination plots established to simulate field conditions showed a rapid decline in the number of seedlings emerging over a 5-yr period. Less than 10% of the seeds planted emerged. Time of germination was correlated with temperature. The dormancy of seeds buried at various depths was found to be broken by overwintering. Older seeds and those close to the surface germinated best. Scarified seeds did not germinate at 15 C nor at temperatures of 39 C or above. Maximum germination occurred at 30 and 33 C. Scarified seeds planted at various depths failed to emerge from 3.8, 4.0, or 7.6 cm in the three soil types evaluated; the majority emerged from 3 cm or less. Seeds stored outdoors, at 3 to 8 C, or −3 to 0 C declined in dormancy with time compared to seeds stored at 15 to 25 C.

Keywords

Seed dormancyhard seeds

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , May 1980 , pp. 330 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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