| Abstract Detail
Ecophysiology Sundberg, Marshall [1]. Germination of chasmogamous and cleistogamous seeds of Lespedeza cuneata. Lespedeza cuneata (Sericea lespedeza) is classified in Kansas as a “noxious weed” and landowners are required to manage its occurrence on their property (Whitson 1996). It is well documented that a single vigorous ramet of the plant may produce as many as 1500 seeds, which are probably spread by animals either by being eaten or attaching to fur or plumage (Blackshaw and Rose, 1991). Ohlenbusch et al. (2007) suggest that germination requires 13-18 hours of daylight and temperatures in the range of 20-30oC. The plant produces both cleistogamous and chasmogamous seeds but little is known about their respective numbers, viability, or germination requirements. The purpose of this project was to determine if there are significant differences between the two types of serecia seeds. Batches of seeds were collected in 2001, 2017, 2018, and 2020. Although there were annual variations, approximately equal numbers of chasmogamous and cleistogamous seeds are produced each season. Seeds from each collection were separated by type and subjected to a variety of germination treatments: pre-soaking at 20, 70, 80, and 100oC, growing at 20, 30, or 35oC, and growing in constant light or dark. Maximum germination rates for seeds less than 5 years old averaged around 70%; 20-year-old seed averaged 26%; there were no significant differences between chasmogamous and cleistogamous seeds. Optimum conditions for germination were pre-treatment from 70-80oC with 35-35oC growing temperature. Light made no difference under any conditions and although 3 specific treatment comparisons between seed types were significant, overall there were not significant differences between chasmogamous and cleistogamous seeds.
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1 - Emporia State University, Department Of Biological Sciences, 1 Kellogg Circle, Emporia, KS, 66801, United States
Keywords:
cleistogamy
Seed Germination
Lespedeza.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P2, Ecophysiology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Tuesday, July 20th, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P2PE003
Abstract ID:806
Candidate for Awards:None |
