Seed germination response of a noxious agricultural weed Echium plantagineum to temperature, light, pH, drought stress, salinity, heat and smoke
Singarayer Florentine A C , Sandra Weller A , Alannah King A , Arunthathy Florentine A , Kim Dowling , Martin Westbrooke A and Bhagirath S. Chauhan B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Environmental Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, PO Box 663, Mount Helen, Vic. 3350, Australia.
B Centre for Plant Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: s.florentine@federation.edu.au
Crop and Pasture Science 69(3) 326-333 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP17308
Submitted: 25 August 2017 Accepted: 2 December 2017 Published: 19 February 2018
Abstract
Echium plantagineum is a significant pasture weed in the Mediterranean climatic zone of several countries, including Australia. This invasive weed, introduced as an ornamental into Australia (where it is known as Paterson’s curse), quickly became established and is now a significant weed of agriculture. Although E. plantagineum is a well-established, highly competitive weed that thrives under disturbance and is tolerant of a wide variety of conditions, including varying soil moisture and drought, and some aspects of its ecology remain unknown. This study investigated germination response to temperature and light, pH, soil moisture, salinity, and pre-germination exposure of seed to heat and smoke. Temperature was found to be more influential on germination than light and the species is tolerant to a wide range of pH. However, available moisture may limit germination, as may elevated salinity. Management of this weed requires approaches that minimise soil seedbank input or prevent germination of soil seedbanks.
Additional keywords: invasive, osmotic stress, Paterson’s curse, seed ecology.
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