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Germination Characteristics of Italian Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) and Slenderflower Thistle (Carduus tenuiflorus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Raymond A. Evans ,
James A. Young  and
Robert Hawkes
Raymond A. Evans
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Renewable Resource Center, Univ. of Nevada, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512
James A. Young
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Renewable Resource Center, Univ. of Nevada, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512
Robert Hawkes
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Biol. Control of Weeds Lab., Albany, CA 94106
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Abstract

Seed germination of Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus L.) and slenderflower thistle (Carduus tenuiflorus Curt.) was rapid and high, with no strong requirements for afterripening. Both species germinated at a wide range of alternating temperatures from −2 to 40 C. Their germination-temperature profiles were similar, with Italian thistle germinating over a slightly wider range of temperatures. The achenes of both species have abundant mucilage. This mucilage, by improving water retention, tended to increase germination on the surface of clay soil.

Keywords

Seed mucilageseedbed ecologytemperature-germination relations
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , May 1979 , pp. 327 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © 1979 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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