Weed Research (1995) 35, 489-493

M. Fenner (1995)
The effect of pre-germination chilling on subsequent growth and flowering in three arable weeds
Weed Research 35 (6), 489-493
Abstract: This experiment investigated the effect of pre-germination moist chilling of seeds (for 3 weeks at 2°C) of 10 common arable weeds on the subsequent growth and flowering of the plants. In only three of the species (Alopecurus myosuroides Huds., Veronica persica Poir. and Trifolium dubium Sibth.) was flowering markedly increased by the seed chilling treatments. At 3 months, the mean number of flowers and seed heads per plant on the treated plants was greater than that on the controls by factors of 13.9, 2.02 and 1.74 respectively. Shoot lengths of the seed-chilled plants were also significantly greater in all three species, though dry weights did not differ significantly from those of the controls. Thus, the plants showed morphological changes associated with reproduction but no significant alteration in total dry weight. The ecological implications of the data are discussed in relation to possible effects of climatic change on species which require seed vernalization.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Veronica persica (weed)
	Alopecurus myosuroides (weed)
	Trifolium dubium (weed)