Factors Influencing Germination of Field Violet (Viola arvensis)

Abstract

Field violet germination occurred during May to early July and again during September to November in Nova Scotia (N.S.), Canada. Germination occurred from October until early April in the North Carolina (NC) piedmont. Germination was stimulated by tillage. Seed collected in N.S. and in NC germinated optimally in the dark under a temperature regime of 15/5 C, on an 8/16 h thermoperiod. Germination at constant temperatures decreased with increasing temperatures, from 5 to 25 C. Seed collected in NC was capable of germinating at a higher constant temperature of 25 C than seed collected in N.S. Germination of seed collected in NC was partially inhibited by constant irradiance with a photosynthetic photon flux density of 100 μM m−2 s−1 (400 to 700 nm). Seed did not germinate when exposed to constant red or far-red irradiance.