Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T21:06:27.690Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Influence of Various Environmental Factors on Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence of a Noxious Environmental Weed: Green Galenia (Galenia pubescens)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Ako H. Mahmood
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, PO Box 663, Victoria 3350, Australia
Singarayer K. Florentine*
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, PO Box 663, Victoria 3350, Australia
Bhagirath S. Chauhan
Affiliation:
The Centre for Plant Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
David A McLaren
Affiliation:
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources and Research Fellow, La Trobe University, AgriBio Centre, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
Grant C. Palmer
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, PO Box 663, Victoria 3350, Australia
Wendy Wright
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, PO Box 663, Victoria 3350, Australia
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: s.florentine@federation.edu.au

Abstract

Green galenia is a South African woody prostrate perennial that was first recorded in Australia in the early 1900s and has since become a serious threat to indigenous temperate grasslands and surrounding agricultural areas. Laboratory and field based experiments were conducted to examine the effect of environmental factors on the germination and viability of green galenia seed. It was shown that green galenia was able to germinate over a broad range of temperatures, but short bursts (5 min) of high temperatures (80 C to 120 C replicating possible exposures to a fire) reduced seed germination. Seed germination was positively favored by light, declined rapidly in darkness, and decreased by > 80% at a depth of only 0.5 cm in soil. Water stress greatly reduced seed germination (45% germination at osmotic potentials below −0.2 MPa). Germination was completely inhibited at water potentials of −0.4 to −1.0 MPa. This species is moderately tolerant to salinity, with over 50% of seeds germinating at low levels of salinity (60 mM NaCl), and moderate germination (49%) occurring at 120 mM NaCl, it can germinate well in both alkaline (pH 10–83%) and acidic (pH 4–80%) conditions. The results of this study have contributed to our understanding of the germination and emergence of green galenia, and this will assist in developing tools and strategies for the long term management of this noxious weed in Victoria and other parts of Australia.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Associate Editor for this paper: John L. Lindquist, University of Nebraska.

References

Literature Cited

Amri, E (2010) Germination of Terminalia sericea Buch ex Dc. seeds: effect of temperature regime, photoperiod, gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate. Am-Eurasian J Agri Env Sci 8: 722727 Google Scholar
Arnold, TH, De Wet, BC (1993) Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. National Botanical Institute South Africa, Silverton, South Africa, 825 pGoogle Scholar
Baskin, CC, Baskin, JM (1998) Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination. New York: Elsevier. Pp 5676 Google Scholar
Bebawi, FF, Campbell, SD, Mayer, RJ (2015) Seed bank longevity and age to reproductive maturity of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton in the dry tropics of northern Queensland. Rang J 37: 239247 Google Scholar
Benvenuti, S, Macchia, M, Miele, S (2001) Quantitative analysis of emergence of seedlings from buried weed seeds with increasing soil depth. Weed Sci 49: 528535 Google Scholar
Beyranvand, H, Farnia, A, Nakhjavan, SH, Shaban, M (2013) Response of yield and yield components of maize (Zea mayz L.) to different bio fertilizers. Int J Adva Bio Biom Rese 1: 10681077 Google Scholar
Bouwmeester, HJ, Karssen, CM (1992) The dual role of temperature in the regulation of the seasonal changes in dormancy and germination of seeds of Polygonum persicaria L. Oecologia 90: 8894 Google Scholar
Brits, GJ, Calitz, FJ, Brown, NAC, Manning, JC (1993) Desiccation as the active principle in heat-stimulated seed germination of Leucospermum R. Br. (Proteaceae) in fynbos. New Phytologist 125: 397403 Google Scholar
Carr, GW, Yugovic, JV, Robinson, KE (1992) Environmental Weed Invasions in Victoria: Conservation and Management Implications. Victoria, Australia: Department of Conservation and Environment and Ecological Horticulture. 78 pGoogle Scholar
Carta, A, Probert, R, Moretti, M, Peruzzi, L, Bedini, G (2014) Seed dormancy and germination in three Crocus ser. Verni species (Iridaceae): implications for evolution of dormancy within the genus. Plant Bio 16: 10651074 Google Scholar
Chauhan, BS, Gurjeet, G, Christopher, P (2006) Factors affecting seed germination of annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) in southern Australia. Weed Sci 54: 854860 Google Scholar
Chauhan, BS, Johnson, DE (2008a) Influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of eclipta (Eclipta prostrata) in a tropical environment. Weed Sci 56: 383388 Google Scholar
Chauhan, BS, Johnson, DE (2008b) Seed germination and seedling emergence of giant sensitive plant (Mimosa invisa). Weed Sci 56: 244248 Google Scholar
Chauhan, BS, Johnson, DE (2009) Seed germination and seedling emergence of synedrella (Synedrella nodiflora) in a tropical environment. Weed Sci 57: 3642 Google Scholar
Çirak, C, Ayan, A, Kevseroglu, K, Çaliskan, Ö (2004) Germination rate of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) seeds exposed to different light intensities and illumination periods. J Bio Sci 4: 279282 Google Scholar
Clarke, S, French, K (2005) Germination response to heat and smoke of 22 Poaceae species from grassy woodlands. Aus J Bot 53: 445454 Google Scholar
Cook, T (2013) Recent advances in galenia control. Plant Prot Quart 28: 9498 Google Scholar
De Lange, JH, Boucher, C (1990) Autecological studies on Audouinia capitata (Bruniaceae). I. Plant-derived smoke as a seed germination cue. S Afr J Bot 56: 700703 Google Scholar
El-Keblawy, A (2014) Effects of seed storage on germination of desert halophytes with transient seed bank. Pages 93103 in Ajmal Khan, M, Benno, B, Münir, Ö, Thabit, Z, Miguel, C, Bilquees, G, eds. Sabkha Ecosystems. Netherlands: Springer Google Scholar
Ferrari, FN, Parera, CA (2015) Germination of six native perennial grasses that can be used as potential soil cover crops in drip-irrigated vineyards in semiarid environs of Argentina. J Arid Env 113: 15 Google Scholar
Florentine, SK, Westbrooke, ME, Gosney, K, Ambrose, G, O'Keefe, M (2006) The arid land invasive weed Nicotiana glauca R. Graham (Solanaceae): population and soil seed bank dynamics, seed germination patterns and seedling response to flood and drought. J Arid Env 66: 218230 Google Scholar
García-de-Lomas, J, Cózar, A, Dana, ED, Hernández, I, Sánchez-García, Í, García, CM (2010) Invasiveness of Galenia pubescens (Aizoaceae): a new threat to Mediterranean-climate coastal ecosystems. Acta Oecol 36: 3945 Google Scholar
Gashaw, M, Michelsen, A (2002) Influence of heat shock on seed germination of plants from regularly burnt savannah woodlands and grasslands in Ethiopia. Plant Eco 159: 8393 Google Scholar
Goergen, K, Lynch, AH, Marshall, AG, Beringer, J (2006) Impact of abrupt land cover changes by savanna fire on northern Australian climate. J Geop Res: Atmo 111: 114 Google Scholar
Grundy, AC, Mead, A, Burston, S (2003) Modelling the emergence response of weed seeds to burial depth: interactions with seed density, weight and shape. J Appl Eco 40: 757770 Google Scholar
Huang, J, Redmann, RE (1995) Salt tolerance of Hordeum and Brassica species during germination and early seedling growth. Can J Plant Sci 75: 815819 Google Scholar
Javaid, MM, Tanveer, A (2014) Germination ecology of Emex spinosa and Emex australis, invasive weeds of winter crops. Weed Res 54: 565575 Google Scholar
Jefferson, LV, Pennacchio, M, Havens, K, Forsberg, B, Sollenberger, D, Ault, J (2008) Ex situ germination responses of Midwestern USA prairie species to plant-derived smoke. Am Mid Nat 159: 251256 Google Scholar
Jeffery, DJ, Holmes, PM, Rebelo, AG (1988) Effects of dry heat on seed germination in selected indigenous and alien legume species in South Africa. S Afr J Bot 54: 2834 Google Scholar
Kebreab, E, Murdoch, AJ (1999) A model of the effects of a wide range of constant and alternating temperatures on seed germination of four Orobanche species. Ann Bot 84: 549557 Google Scholar
Kleinkopf, GE, Wallace, A, Hartsock, TL (1976) Galenia pubescens: Salt-tolerant, drought tolerant potential source of leaf protein. Plant Sci Let 7: 313320 Google Scholar
Koutsovoulou, K, Daws, MI, Thanos, CA (2014) Campanulaceae: a family with small seeds that require light for germination. Ann Bot 113: 135143 Google Scholar
Leuenberger, BE, Eggli, U (2002) Galenia pubescens (Aizoaceae), new to the South American flora. Bot Jahrbu Syst 123: 441445 Google Scholar
Martinkova, Z, Honek, A, Lukas, J (2006) Seed age and storage conditions influence germination of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli). Weed Sci 54: 298304 Google Scholar
Michel, BE (1983) Evaluation of the water potentials of solutions of polyethylene glycol 8000 both in the absence and presence of other solutes. Plant Physiol 72: 6670 Google Scholar
Milberg, P, Anderson, L, Thompson, K (2000) Large-seeded species are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded ones. Seed Sci Res 10: 99104 Google Scholar
Morgan, JW (1999) Defining grassland fire events and the response of perennial plants to annual fire in temperate grasslands of south-eastern Australia. Plant Eco 144: 127144 Google Scholar
Morgan, JW (2001) Seedling recruitment patterns over 4 years in an Australian perennial grassland community with different fire histories. J Eco 89: 908919 Google Scholar
Norsworthy, JK, Oliveira, MJ (2006) Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) germination and emergence as affected by environmental factors and seeding depth. Weed Sci 54: 903909 Google Scholar
Pons, TL (2000) Seed responses to light. Pages 237257 in Michael, F, ed. Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. New York: CABI Publishing Google Scholar
Prescott, A, Venning, J (1984) Aizoaceae. Pages 5052 in George, AS, ed. Flora of Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service Google Scholar
Read, TR, Bellairs, SM, Mulligan, DR, Lamb, D (2000) Smoke and heat effects on soil seed bank germination for the re-establishment of a native forest community in New South Wales. Aust Eco 25: 4857 Google Scholar
Ren, J, Tao, L, Liu, X-M (2002) Effect of sand burial depth on seed germination and seedling emergence of Calligonum L. species. J Arid Env 51: 603611 Google Scholar
Ross, TS (1994) Galenia pubescens (Aizoaceae) new to the North American flora. Madrono 41: 226228 Google Scholar
Russell-Smith, J, Allan, G, Thackway, R, Rosling, T, Smith, R (2000) Fire management and savanna landscapes in northern Australia. Pages 95101 in Proceedings of Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. Canberra, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Google Scholar
Saatkamp, A, Affre, L, Dutoit, T, Poschlod, P (2011) Germination traits explain soil seed persistence across species: the case of Mediterranean annual plants in cereal fields. Ann Bot 107: 415426 Google Scholar
Smith, MA, Bell, DT, Loneragan, WA (1999) Comparative seed germination ecology of Austrostipa compressa and Ehrharta calycina (Poaceae) in a Western Australian Banksia woodland. Aus J Eco 24: 3542 Google Scholar
Tang, W, Xu, X, Shen, G, Chen, J (2015) Effect of environmental factors on germination and emergence of aryloxyphenoxy propanoate herbicide-resistant and -susceptible Asia minor bluegrass (Polypogon fugax). Weed Sci 63: 669675 Google Scholar
Tieu, A, Dixon, KW, Meney, KA, Sivasithamparam, K (2001) The interaction of heat and smoke in the release of seed dormancy in seven species from south-western Western Australia. Ann Bot 88: 259265 Google Scholar
Todorović, S, Božić, D, Simonović, A, Filipović, B, Dragićević, M, Giba, Z, Grubišić, D (2010) Interaction of fire-related cues in seed germination of the potentially invasive species Paulownia tomentosa Steud. Plant Spe Bio 25: 193202 Google Scholar
Van de Venter, HA, Esterhuizen, AD (1988) The effects of factors associated with fire on seed germination of Erica ses-siliflora and E. hebecalyx (Ericaceae). SA J Bot 54: 301304 Google Scholar
Waes, JM, Debergh, PC (1986) Adaptation of the tetrazolium method for testing the seed viability, and scanning electron microscopy study of some Western European orchids. Phys Planta 66: 435442 Google Scholar
Wang, JH, Baskin, CC, Cui, XL, Du, GZ (2009) Effect of phylogeny, life history and habitat correlates on seed germination of 69 arid and semi-arid zone species from northwest China. Evo Eco 23: 827846 Google Scholar
Wijayratne, UC, Pyke, DA (2012) Burial increases seed longevity of two Artemisia tridentata (Asteraceae) subspecies. Am J Bot 99: 438447 Google Scholar
Woolley, JT, Stoller, EW (1978) Light penetration and light-induced seed germination in soil. Plant Phys 61: 597600 Google Scholar
Wright, BR, Clarke, PJ (2009) Fire, aridity and seed banks. What does seed bank composition reveal about community processes in fire-prone desert? J Veg Sci 20: 663674 Google Scholar