Environmental factors affecting the germination and emergence of white horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.): a weed of arid-zone areas
Muhammad M. Javaid A B , Singarayer K. Florentine B D , Hafiz H. Ali A and Bhagirath S. Chauhan C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan.
B Centre for Environmental Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, Mt Helen, Ballarat, PO Box 663, Vic. 3350, Australia.
C The Centre for Plant Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: s.florentine@federation.edu.au
The Rangeland Journal 40(1) 47-54 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ17121
Submitted: 29 November 2017 Accepted: 12 February 2018 Published: 19 March 2018
Abstract
White horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.), is a troublesome weed of arid zones, particularly in cropping and grazing areas. Understanding the seed ecology of white horehound is relevant to its management. The present study investigated the effects of temperature, light, osmotic potential, salinity, pH, and seeding depth on seed germination and seedling emergence of white horehound. Seeds germinated over a wide range of temperatures, with highest germination (100%) occurring at 25/20°C in either 12-h alternating light/dark or complete darkness. Germination decreased from 92% to 10% as the osmotic potential decreased from 0 to minus 0.6 MPa and germination was completely inhibited at minus 0.8 MPa. Increasing concentration of sodium chloride (salinity) from 50 to 150 mM reduced germination from 68% to 11% but was completely inhibited at 200 mM. Germination was not limited by variation of pH in solutions of pH 5 to pH 10. Maximum germination (99%) occurred at pH 7, but slightly decreased (90%) in acidic or alkaline media. Surface located seeds were highly germinable (87%) where seedling emergence significantly declined as seeding depth increased from 0.5 to 3 cm. Nil seedling emergence was occurred at 4 cm burial depth. Light significantly affected germination, time to 50% germination, mean germination time and germination index. Increasing osmotic and salinity stress both significantly increased the time to start germination, time to 50% germination, mean germination time, but decreased germination index. Burial depth adversely affected seedling emergence with surface located seedlings emerging earlier (4.2 days) compared with 20 days for seeds buried at 3 cm. Results suggest that effective management of white horehound should consider targeting surface located seeds in combination with tools that induce minimal soil disturbance, particularly in relatively non-saline environments.
Additional keywords: burial depth, photoperiod, salt stress, temperature.
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