Plant Protection Science (1997) 33, 265-279
Zdenka Martinková, Alois Honek and Jindra Stolcová (1997)
The incidence of primary seed dormancy in weed species of the Czech Republic
Plant Protection Science 33 (4), 265-279
Abstract: The incidence of primary seed dormancy was investigated in populations of 154 weed species (of 35 families) from the western Czech Republic (Bohemia). Studied were annual and perennial forbs growing in cultivated or abandoned fields in early stages of vegetational succession. After a maturation period of 30 d at room conditions (25 °C, 40 relative humidity), the incidence of primary dormancy was measured as percentage of germination (at 25 °C and 4 h light : 20 h darkness photoperiod). Fifty eight species (38% of the total sample) had 0 germination, 46 spp. (30%) had 0.1-10% germination, 37 spp. (24%) had 10.1-80% and 13 spp. (8%) had 80.1-100% germination, This distribution of germination percentages was virtually identical in annuals, winter annuals and perennials, Significant deviation from this distribution was observed in the family of Asteraceae (Chi2 =7.219, p < 0.05). Significant differences may also exist between Asteraceae and the families of Apiaceae and Polygonaceae. There was no relationship between germination rate and number of chromosomes, typical plant size, and median date and length of flowering. A comparison of these data with those of 59 species from the United Kingdom (Grime et al., 1981) revealed significant differences in 19 species (32%). The differences may indicate intraspecific variation in the incidence of primary seed dormancy. The incidence of primary dormancy is not correlated with persistence of soil seed banks.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Alois Honek, Zdenka Martinkova
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
