Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:18:02.608Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors affecting seed germination of tropical signalgrass (Urochloa subquadripara)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Travis C. Teuton ,
Barry J. Brecke ,
J. Bryan Unruh ,
Greg E. MacDonald ,
Grady L. Miller  and
Joyce Tredaway Ducar
Barry J. Brecke
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Milton, FL 32583
J. Bryan Unruh
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Milton, FL 32583
Greg E. MacDonald
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Grady L. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Joyce Tredaway Ducar
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA 30149
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Tropical signalgrass is one of the dominant weeds in the Florida turfgrass industry and is potentially troublesome for the southeastern turfgrass industry. Tropical signalgrass is especially problematic for St. Augustinegrass sod producers because of lack of control options. The objectives of our research were to determine the effect of light, pH, temperature, water potential, and planting depth on tropical signalgrass germination and emergence. Tropical signalgrass germination does not require light and is optimum at pH 5 to 6, temperature 25 C, and water potentials greater than − 0.4 MPa. Tropical signalgrass shoots emerged from depths of 0 to 7 cm, with maximum germination when placed on the soil surface. Tropical signalgrass seedlings emerged in the field during the second week of March in Ft. Lonesome, FL. Weekly mean soil and ambient air temperatures at the time of emergence were 20 C. Tropical signalgrass emergence was first observed at 118 and 73 growing degree-days (GDD) (13 C base temperature), with a peak emergence period at 222 and 156 GDD for 2001 and 2002, respectively.

Keywords

Tropical signalgrass, Urochloa subquadripara (Trin.) R. D. Webster BRASUSt. Augustinegrass, Stenotaphrum secondatum (Wait.) KuntzSeed germinationemergencelightpHtemperaturedepth of emergencetime of emergence
Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Information
Weed Science , Volume 52 , Issue 3 , June 2004 , pp. 376 - 381
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

Arnold, C. Y. 1959. The determination of the significance of the base temperature in a linear heat unit system. Proc. Am. Soc. HortSci 74:430–445.Google Scholar
Brecke, B. J. 1995. Wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla) germination and emergence. Weed Sci 43:103–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Danneberger, T. K., Branham, B. E., and Vargas, J. M. 1987. Mefluidide applications for annual bluegrass seedhead suppression based on degree-day accumulation. Agron. J 79:69–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fidanza, M. A., Dernoeden, P. H., and Zhang, M. 1996. Degree-days for predicting smooth crabgrass emergence in cool-season turfgrasses. Crop Sci 36:990–996.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heckman, N. L., Horst, G. L., and Gaussoin, R. E. 2002. Planting depth effect on emergence and morphology of buffalograss seedlings. Hortscience 37:506–507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Institute of Pacific Island Forestry. 2002. Brachiaria subquadripara (Trin.) Hitchc. Invasive Plant Species. www.hear.org/pier/brsub.htm.Google Scholar
Kidder, G., Black, R. J., and Ruppert, K. C. 1989. Soil pH and Landscape Plants. EDIS. www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG092.Google Scholar
Lewis, W. M. 1977. The Influence of Soil and Air Temperatures on Goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertin) Germination with the Reference to Timely Herbicide Application for Preemergence Control of Goosegrass. Summary of Research Reports. Far Hills, NJ: United States Golf Association. Pp. 5–6.Google Scholar
Lindroos, A. J., Derome, J., Paavolainen, L., and Helmisaari, H. S. 2001. The effect of lake-water on the acidity and base cation status of forest soil. Water Air Soil Pollut 131:153–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marousky, F. J. and West, S. H. 1988. Germination of bahiagrass in response to temperature and scarification. Hortic. Sci 113:845–849.Google Scholar
McCarty, L. B. and Cisar, J. L. 1989. Basic Guidelines for Sod Production in Florida. Gainesville, FL: Florida Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin 260.Google Scholar
Moreno, J. E. and McCarty, L. B. 1994. Factors affecting crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) germination. South. Weed Sci. Soc. Proc 47:71.Google Scholar
Nishimoto, R. K. and McCarty, L. B. 1997. Fluctuating temperature and light influence on seed germination of goosegrass (Eleusine indica). Weed Sci 45:426–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, G. L., Warren, S. L., Mikkelsen, R. L., and Michael, L. H. 1999. Effects of soil calcium and pH on seed germination and subsequent growth of large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis). Weed Technol 13:421–424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, S. J., Jones, R. A., and Williams, W. A. 1984. Review of data analysis method for seed germination. Crop Sci 24:1192–1199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[USDA] U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2002. Urochloa subquadripara. Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Profile. www.plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi.Google Scholar
West, S. and Marousky, F. 1989. Mechanisms of dormancy in Pensacola bahiagrass. Crop Sci 29:787–791.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whalen, J. K., Chang, C., and Clayton, G. W. 2002. Cattle manure and lime amendments to improve crop production of acidic soils in northern Alberta. Can. Soil Sci 82:227–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar