Variation Within Pure Lines of Wild Oats (Avena fatua) in Relation to Temperature of Development

Abstract

Plants of dormant and nondormant wild oat (Avena fatuaL. # AVEFA) lines were grown under temperatures of 15, 20, and 25 C. A number of physiological and morphological characters in the plants and seed of both lines were influenced by temperature. Duration of dormancy in the progeny seed increased in both lines that had experienced low temperatures (15 C) during development, and decreased in seed of both lines that had experienced high temperatures (25 C) during development. High, compared to low, temperatures of development decreased plant height, vegetative and seed development time, seed numbers per plant, seed dry weight, and seed water content.