SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR GERMINATION OF BURIED SEEDS OF APHANES ARVENSIS L.

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Seasonal changes in dormancy occurred in seeds of Aphanes arvensis buried in soil under field conditions. During late spring and summer the temperature range for germination extended upwards, reaching that of the surface soil in early August when emergence begins. The seeds were at their least dormant in September but the range then narrowed in autumn and winter, and dormancy was greatest in April. Exposure of seeds buried in pots of soil to high (20 to 30 °C) temperatures alleviated dormancy, while low (4 °C) temperature tended to induce it. The consistent pattern of autumn emergence appears to be determined by these cyclic changes in dormancy status which develop largely as a consequence of the temperatures experienced by the buried seeds.