Factors affecting seed germination of Eragrostis plana populations.

Abstract: Background: Eragrostis plana , introduced from South Africa, is the most important invasive perennial weed in the grasslands of Southern Brazil (“Pampa biome”), becoming a threat in neighboring countries. How temperature, light, and water potential affect seed germination is poorly underst...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: LAMEGO, F. P., CARATTI, F. C., ROMA-BURGOS, N., SCHERNER, A., ZABALA-PARDO, D., AVILA, L. A., BASTIANI, M. O.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Brasil
Institución:Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da EMBRAPA (Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from EMBRAPA - Alice)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br:doc/1168051
Acceso en línea:http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1168051
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Invasividade
Bioma pampa
Invasiveness
Tough lovegrass
Erva Daninha
Eragrostis Plana
Pastagem
Pastagem Nativa
Capim
Potencial Hídrico
Rangelands
Water potential
Descripción
Sumario:Abstract: Background: Eragrostis plana , introduced from South Africa, is the most important invasive perennial weed in the grasslands of Southern Brazil (“Pampa biome”), becoming a threat in neighboring countries. How temperature, light, and water potential affect seed germination is poorly understood but essential to understand its invasiveness and dissemination. Objective: This study characterized the seed germination of E. plana from locations in the Brazilian Bioma Pampa under different conditions. Methods: Seed germination was evaluated by using a time-to-event model across a wide range of temperatures (15 to 45C), light (total darkness or 12-h light), and water potentials (0, -0.08, -0.2, -0.25, -0.5, -0.75, -1, and -1.5 MPa). Results: E. plana seeds did not germinate below 15C and at water potential lower than -0.75 MPa. Among populations, the highest germination was at 40C (> 90%). The base temperature for germination ranged from 12.3 to 15.6C across populations. E. plana did not germinate more than 40% at 25C, except for one population (Caçapava do Sul), with a germination capacity of 73%. Light is a requirement for a fraction of the seeds as darkness inhibits the germination of a fraction of the seeds as well. Conclusions: E. plana could adapt to cooler temperatures, as shown by the ability of the Caçapava do Sul population to germinate at low temperatures. This ability for seed germination help to explain why E. plana has successfully invaded the rangelands of Southern Brazil, spreading around neighboring countries. Management strategies have to be urgently adopted to avoid its dissemination abroad.