Germination and Emergence of Longspine Sandbur (Cenchrus longispinus)

Abstract

Longspine sandbur germinated readily after 3 months of storage at 0 to 4 C. Germination was 15 to 82 and 10 to 76% for seed retained by or that passed through a 1.7-mm-mesh screen, respectively, and was greatest in complete darkness near 30 C. Light inhibited seed germination at most of the temperatures tested. Incubating imbibed seed at 40 C and 40/10 C for 3 weeks reduced the viability of seed that did not germinate by more than 50%. Primary seed within the bur germinated 77% and secondary seed germinated 35% during 2 weeks at 35/10 C (16 light/8 dark h). Primary seed placed in polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions ranging from −0.5 to −1.5 kPa water potential germinated as much or greater than seed placed in water, while secondary seed germination was inhibited by similar osmotic potentials. Seedlings emerged from depths to 11 cm but emerged most readily from 1- to 3-cm depths.