ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Seed germination and emergence of Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. in response to environmental factors
 
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1
Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Southern Border (UFFS), BR 158 Km 405, 85301-970 Laranjeiras do Sul, Paraná, Brazil
 
2
Department of Agronomy, Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), Via do Conhecimento Km 1, 85503-390 Pato Branco, Paraná, Brazil
 
3
Department of Landscape Systems Analysis, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
 
 
Submission date: 2015-07-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2016-01-29
 
 
Corresponding author
Henrique von Hertwig Bittencourt
Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Southern Border (UFFS), BR 158 Km 405, 85301-970 Laranjeiras do Sul, Paraná, Brazil
 
 
Journal of Plant Protection Research 2016;56(1):32-38
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Eragrostis tenuifolia is a weed species that is gaining ground in Brazil. This weed occurs in pastures, grasslands, crop fields, and roadsides. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of different environmental factors on E. tenuifolia seed germination and seedling emergence. The optimum constant temperature for germination was around 35–30°C. It was also found that 85% of seeds germinated under a 30/20°C alternate temperature regime. Light appears to have a positive effect on seed germination. No seedlings emerged when seeds were buried 3 cm or deeper. The results suggested that E. tenuifolia has the potential to spread into pastures and in no-tillage crop systems in Brazil. Measures such as the use of cover crops and/or soil cultivation can be used to limit germination and seedling emergence, respectively.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
 
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