Publication Date

1997

Description

The long term seed softening of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) was studied in the field in a mediterranean environment in Chile. Burrs were collected in March of 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 (collecting years), and placed in the field either on the surface or buried at 1 cm depth. Field germination was recorded regularly and the remaining non-germinated seeds were tested for germination in the laboratory during 4 years. The percentage of soft seeds on soil surface burrs was on average 3.2% (mean of 4 collecting years) after the first summer in the field, and reached 83% after 5 summers. Seed softening was significantly greater on burrs buried at 1 cm depth than those placed on soil surface. The split-split-plot ANOVA for cumulative soft seeds, showed that collecting year (CY), softening season (SS) and environment treatment (ET) were highly significant, but also the CY*SS*ET interaction was significant.

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Hardseededness Under Field Conditions of Medicago polymorpha During Five Softening Seasons in the Mediterranean Zone of Chile

The long term seed softening of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) was studied in the field in a mediterranean environment in Chile. Burrs were collected in March of 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 (collecting years), and placed in the field either on the surface or buried at 1 cm depth. Field germination was recorded regularly and the remaining non-germinated seeds were tested for germination in the laboratory during 4 years. The percentage of soft seeds on soil surface burrs was on average 3.2% (mean of 4 collecting years) after the first summer in the field, and reached 83% after 5 summers. Seed softening was significantly greater on burrs buried at 1 cm depth than those placed on soil surface. The split-split-plot ANOVA for cumulative soft seeds, showed that collecting year (CY), softening season (SS) and environment treatment (ET) were highly significant, but also the CY*SS*ET interaction was significant.