Interactions Among Ethephon, Nitrate, and After-Ripening in the Release of Dormancy of Wild Oat (Avena fatua) Seed

Abstract

Germination of dormant wild oat (Avena fatuaL. # AVEFA) seed was examined in response to various concentrations of ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), KNO3, or both together in the dark at temperatures ranging from 7 to 32 C. Both chemicals significantly (P = 0.05) promoted germination and their effects were additive. Maximum stimulation of germination in response to all treatments occurred at 7 C, with a gradual decrease in reponse as temperature or duration of after-ripening, the seed that retained dormancy during storage remained responsive to ethephon also occurred during storage of mature seed at 3 to 32 C. The rate and extent of this dormancy loss increased with an increase in storage temperature. Regardless of the temperature or duration of after-ripening, the seed that retained dormancy during storage remained responsive to ethephon and KNO3treatments. Suitable combinations of after-ripening, ethephon, and KNO3induced over 90% germination of seed that was dormant at maturity. Experimental evidence has been obtained that suggests that this percentage may represent the total number of viable seed in the population. While ethephon promoted seed germination, it severely stunted root and shoot growth of the resulting seedlings. It appears that strategies could be developed to combine the use of ethephon and nitrate with the natural process of after-ripening to enhance and synchronize wild oat germination.