Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T01:26:11.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Laboratory Methods for Breaking Dormancy in Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Lynn M. Sosnoskie*
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Science, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA 31794
John Cardina
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Garlic mustard seeds are dormant at maturity, and 90 to 105 d of cold-moist stratification at 4 C have been used to induce germination. We studied methods for breaking dormancy and inducing germination without cold stratification, for use in laboratory and greenhouse experiments with garlic mustard. Seeds were collected from large infestations, stored at room temperature, and subjected to chemical and mechanical scarification treatments. For chemical scarification, seeds were immersed in 3% (v/v) H2O2 for 12, 24, or 48 h with constant stirring, or immersed in concentrated (95 to 97%) H2SO4 for 1 or 5 min with stirring. For mechanical scarification, seeds were placed in a sandpaper-lined tumbler for 1 or 3 s. Scarified seeds, along with non-scarified seeds, were placed in petri dishes on germination blotters saturated with gibberellic acid (GA3, 10−3 M) or deionized water, and incubated for 35 d at either 20/10 C or 15/6 C (12 hr/12 hr). None of the non-scarified seeds germinated, regardless of germination solution or temperature. Seeds germinated only following scarification, and only when imbibed in GA3 solutions. Seeds immersed in H2SO4 for 5 min or mechanically scarified for 3 s had the highest level of germination in GA3. Cumulative percent germination after 35 d was greater for seeds stored 30 mo (44 to 83%), than for seeds stored 6 (2 to 60%) or 18 mo (35 to 79%), regardless of scarification treatment. The germination results, along with scanning electron micrographs of seed coats, suggest that the intact garlic mustard seed coat is permeable to water but not GA3; therefore, both scarification and GA3 are needed to break dormancy and induce germination without cold stratification.

Type
Notes and Commentary
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.)

References

Literature Cited

Akinola, J. O., Larbi, A., Farinu, G. O., and Odunsi, A. A. 2000. Seed treatment methods and duration effects on germination of wild sunflower. Exp. Agric 36:6369.Google Scholar
Anderson, R. C., Dhillion, S. S., and Kelley, T. M. 1996. Aspects of the ecology of an invasive plant. Restor. Ecol 4:181191.Google Scholar
Baskin, J. M. and Baskin, C. C. 1992. Seed germination and biology of the weedy biennial Alliaria petiolata. Nat. Areas J 12:191197.Google Scholar
Baskin, J. M. and Baskin, C. C. 2004. A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Sci. Res 14:116.Google Scholar
Burke, D. J. 2008. Effects of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard; Brassicaceae) on mycorrhizal colonization and community structure in three herbaceous plants in a mixed deciduous forest. Amer. J. Bot 95:14161425.Google Scholar
Cavers, P. B., Heagy, M. I., and Kokran, R. F. 1979. The biology of Canadian weeds. 35. Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara and Grande. Can. J. Plant Sci 59:217229.Google Scholar
Chen, C. and Lin, T. 1994. Mechanism of hydrogen peroxide in improving the germination of Cinnamomum camphora seed. Seed Sci. Tech 22:231236.Google Scholar
Debeaujon, I., Leon-Kloosterziel, K. M., and Koornneef, M. 2000. Influence of the testa on seed dormancy, germination, and longevity in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 122:403413.Google Scholar
Duval, J. R. and NeSmith, D. S. 2000. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide and seedcoat removal or clipping improve germination of ‘Genesis’ triploid watermelon. HortScience 35:8586.Google Scholar
El-Keblawy, A. and Al-Rawai, A. 2006. Effects of seed maturation time and dry storage on light and temperature requirements during germination in invasive Prosopis juliflora. Flora 201:135143.Google Scholar
El-Siddig, K., Ebert, G., and Ludders, P. 2001. A comparison of pretreatment methods for scarification and germination of Tamarindus indica L. seeds. Seed Sci. Technol 29:271274.Google Scholar
Hsiao, A. I. and Quick, W. A. 1984. Actions of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide on seed dormancy and germination of wild oats, Avena fatua L. Weed Res 24:411419.Google Scholar
Katzman, L. S., Taylor, A. G., and Langhans, R. W. 2001. Seed enhancements to improve spinach germination. HortScience 36:979981.Google Scholar
Kindinger, B. 1994. A method to enhance germination in Eastern gamagrass. Maydica 39:5356.Google Scholar
Lhotská, M. 1975. Notes on the ecology of germination of Alliaria petiolata. Folia Geobot. Phytotaxon 10:179183.Google Scholar
McDonald, M. B. and Khan, A. A. 1977. Factors determining germination of Indian ricegrass seeds. Agron. J 69:558563.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meekins, J. F. and McCarthy, B. C. 1999. Competitive ability of Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard, Brassicaceae), an invasive, non-indigenous forest herb. Int. J. Plant Sci 160:743752.Google Scholar
Naredo, M. E. B., Juliano, A. B., de Guzman, F., and Jackson, M. T. 1998. Responses to seed dormancy-breaking treatments in rice species (Oryza L.). Seed Sci. Technol 26:675689.Google Scholar
Nuzzo, V. A. 1993. Distribution and spread of the invasive biennial Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) in North America. Pages 137145. In McKnight, B. L. Biological Pollution: Control and Impact of Invasive Exotic Species. Indianapolis Indiana Academy of Science.Google Scholar
Nuzzo, V. A. 1999. Invasion pattern of the herb garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in high quality forests. Biol. Invasions 1:169179.Google Scholar
Ogawa, K. and Iwabuchi, M. 2001. A mechanism for promoting the germination of Zinnia elegans seeds by hydrogen peroxide. Plant Cell Physiol 42:286291.Google Scholar
Prati, D. and Bossdorf, O. 2004. Allelopathic inhibition of germination by Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae). Am. J. Bot 91:285288.Google Scholar
Qaderi, M. W., Presti, A., and Cavers, P. B. 2005. Dry storage effects on germinability of Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) cypselas. Acta Oecol 27:6774.Google Scholar
Raghu, S. and Post, S. L. 2008. Cold stratification requirements for germination of Alliaria petiolata. Invasive Plant Sci. Manage 1:315318.Google Scholar
SAS 2003. SAS Procedures Guide. Version 9.1. Cary, NC SAS Institute.Google Scholar
Stinson, K. A., Campbell, S. A., Powell, J. R., Wolfe, B. E., Callaway, R. M., Thelen, G. C., Hallett, S. H., Prati, D., and Klironomos, J. N. 2006. Invasive plant suppresses the growth of native tree seedlings by disrupting belowground mutualisms.Google Scholar