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Seed mortality in the soil is related to seed coat thickness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2010

Antoine Gardarin ,
Carolyne Dürr ,
Maria R. Mannino ,
Hugues Busset  and
Nathalie Colbach
Antoine Gardarin
Affiliation:
INRA, AgroSup Dijon, UB, UMR 1210 Biologie et Gestion des Adventices, 21000Dijon, France
Carolyne Dürr
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR 1191 Physiologie Moléculaire des Semences, 49000Angers, France
Maria R. Mannino
Affiliation:
GEVES – Station Nationale d'Essai de Semences, 49000Beaucouzé, France
Hugues Busset
Affiliation:
INRA, AgroSup Dijon, UB, UMR 1210 Biologie et Gestion des Adventices, 21000Dijon, France
Nathalie Colbach*
Affiliation:
INRA, AgroSup Dijon, UB, UMR 1210 Biologie et Gestion des Adventices, 21000Dijon, France
*
*Correspondence Fax: +33 – (0)3 80 69 32 62 Email: Nathalie.Colbach@dijon.inra.fr
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Abstract

Models that quantify the effects of cropping systems on weed dynamics are useful tools for testing innovative cropping systems. In these models, seed mortality in the soil is a key parameter to account for the cumulated effect of cropping systems over time via the soil seed-bank. Since seed mortality is difficult to measure, our objective was to develop a method to estimate it from easily accessible information. Seeds of 13 weed species were buried 30 cm deep in fields and were recovered regularly for 2 years to measure their viability. Seed mass, dimensions, shape, and protein and lipid contents as well as coat thickness were measured. To estimate seed mortality of species not included in the study, we searched for relationships between mortality rates and seed traits. Seed viability mainly decreased during the second year of burial, with mortality rates ranging from 0.01 to 0.63 seeds·seeds− 1·year− 1, depending on the species. Seed mortality decreased with increasing seed coat thickness. No correlation was found with other measured traits or with seed persistence data in the literature. These results were confirmed when the effects of phylogenetic relatedness with phylogenetically independent contrasts were included. The thickness of the seed coat, which varied between 17 and 231 μm over the range of species studied, can protect the seed from external attacks in the soil and slow down seed decay. This trait can be easily measured via X-ray images and could be used to estimate the seed mortality rate for a wider range of species.

Keywords

lipid contentseed coatseed massseed mortalityseed shapeseed traitweed
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 243 - 256
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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