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Texas, USA 2010 - International Herbage Seed Group

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<strong>Seed</strong>s(%)<strong>Seed</strong>s (%)<strong>Seed</strong>s (%)<strong>Seed</strong> germination percentage (%)1008060402001 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 28Days (d)WP WOP RRP RCP WP+F WOP+F RRP+F RCP+FFigure 1. Cumulative germination of Zygophyllum xanthoxylum seeds subjected to differentphysical treatments (WP, seeds with pericarp; WOP, seeds without pericarp; RRP, seeds ofpericarp near radical removed; RCP, seeds of pericarp near cotyledon removed; F, flush with tapwater for 24hours)Effect of pericarp and seed burial on seed persistence in the fieldField germination was significantly influenced by pericarp, burial depth and burial time (Figure2.). <strong>Seed</strong>s without pericarp germinated earlier compared to seeds with pericarp, and as burialdepth increased, seed germination increased early in the season (from February to June ) but nodifference was observed between 2 and 5cm burial depths late in the season (from August toOctober). Most buried seeds (at 2 and 5 cm) with or without a pericarp germinated during theAugust to October period. However, nearly all seeds exposed on the soil surface failed togerminate at any time of the year. A significantly higher proportion of decayed seed wasobserved in treatments without a pericarp compared to seeds with a pericarp, regardless of burialdepth, and increased over time.100806040Field germination4030<strong>2010</strong>Decayed seeds10080604020Pericarp imposed dormancyWOP+0WOP+2WOP+5WP+0WP+2WP+5200Dec-07 Feb-08 Apr-08 Jun-08 Aug-08 Oct-080Dec-07 Feb-08 Apr-08 Jun-08 Aug-08 Oct-08Date0Dec-07 Feb-08 Apr-08 Jun-08 Aug-08 Oct-08DateFigure 2. Status of seeds recovered over time in the burial experiment, expressed as a proportionof field germination (%), decayed seeds (%) and pericarp imposed dormancy (%). WOP+0, 2 or5 are seeds without pericarp buried at 0, 2 or 5 cm depth; WP+0, 2 or 5 are seeds with pericarpburied at 0, 2 or 5 cm depth.DiscussionThis study clearly shows that pericarp is responsible for seed dormancy in Z. xanthoxylumbecause the pericarp almost completely inhibits seed germination and removal of the pericarp101

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