Weed Science (1999) 47, 524-528

T.M. Webster and J. Cardina (1999)
Apocynum cannabinum seed germination and vegetative shoot emergence
Weed Science 47 (5), 524-528
Abstract: Apocynum cannabinum is a native creeping perennial distributed throughout the U.S., with increasing importance in reduced tillage systems throughout the Midwest. Apocynum cannabinum has been shown to be a difficult species to control in field crops. Effective weed management is often a function of the timing of control practice. Knowledge of weed emergence patterns may be useful in predicting the optimum time of weed management. The objectives of these studies were to describe how temperature and moisture affect A. cannabinum seed germination and to describe the relationship between growing degree units (GDU) and A. cannabinum vegetative shoot emergence. At constant temperatures, seed germination was described as a sigmoidal function of temperature (r² = 0.83), with maximum germination (32%) from 26 to 34 C. Under alternating temperatures, seed germination increased in a linear relationship between mean temperatures of 15 and 34 C (r² = 0.85). Maximum seed germination (88%) occurred at a mean temperature of 34 C under alternating temperatures. The relationship between seed germination and osmotic potential between -1.0 and 0 MPa was described by a gompertz function (r² = 0.98). Germination at -1.0 MPa was 4% and increased in a near linear manner to the nontreated control (0 MPa), which had 80% germination. Vegetative shoot emergence in 1997 and 1998 had a sigmoidal relationship to GDU using a base temperature of 6 C (r² = 0.96). However, initial shoot appearance was not consistent over years, with first emergence recorded on May 21, 1997 (132 GDU), and May 5, 1998 (73 GDU). Approximately 50% of the shoots emerged before June 7, 1997 (282 GDU), and May 21, 1998 (285 GDU); therefore, optimal weed management programs will need to be initiated following this GDU accumulation.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Theodore M. Webster

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Apocynum cannabinum (weed)