VIABILITY OF RUMEX CRISPUS SEEDS HARVESTED AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF MATURITY

Abstract

Seeds of Rumex crispus (curled dock) collected from the parent plants at different stages of maturity exhibited a progressive increase in germination with increased maturity. The seeds reached physiological maturity 18 days past anthesis. After-ripening of seeds did not alter their germinability. The seeds enclosed in the perianth segments produced higher germination values than naked seeds, probably because the green perianth segments continue to provide photosynthates to the developing seeds. Panicles severed from the parent plant and placed among mowed herbage or buried in the soil produced viable seeds even when they were clipped 2–6 days after anthesis. However, panicles of the same age dried immediately after harvest failed to produce any viable seeds. The dry matter (DM) content of seeds increased until 30 days after anthesis, then levelled off.