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Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Response of spiny cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum) and common cocklebur (X. strumarium) seed germination to environmental and soil factors

Amir Ahmadi A , Faezeh Zaefarian https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2601-8909 A * , Mohammad Rezvani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0249-9920 B , Irandokht Mansouri A and Brian M. Sindel C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran.

B Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran.

C Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

* Correspondence to: fa_zaefarian@yahoo.com

Handling Editor: Ben Gooden

Australian Journal of Botany 72, BT23094 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT23094
Submitted: 7 November 2023  Accepted: 22 April 2024  Published: 16 May 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Seed germination and seedling emergence are affected by many environmental factors. Knowledge regarding factors affecting seed germination of spiny cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum L.) and common cocklebur (X. strumarium L.) could help determine their potential distribution and control strategies.

Aims

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of key environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur.

Methods

Seed germination of spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur was tested at various constant and alternating temperatures, pH, salinity and moisture stress. The effect of flooding height, burial depth and soil type on seedling emergence was also investigated.

Key results

The optimum constant temperature for germination of spiny cocklebur was 25°C, and 35°C and higher for common cocklebur. Under alternating temperature, maximal germination was at 25/15°C and 35/15°C for spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur, respectively. Maximum germination of both spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur was at neutral pH. Spiny cocklebur germination was not suppressed as much by lower and higher pH or by an increasing salinity as was common cocklebur germination.

Conclusions

Common cocklebur appears to be better adapted to warmer environments than is spiny cocklebur, but less so to a broad range of soil pH and salinity stress.

Implications

The different germination responses of common cocklebur and spiny cocklebur to the environmental factors of temperature, pH and salinity imply that the two species may occupy different niches across the landscape. Our knowledge of these responses can help in identifying potential areas for invasion for increased monitoring and management.

Keywords: burial depth, constant and alternating temperatures, drought and salinity stresses, flooding depth, light regime, pH, seedling emergence, soil type.

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