Germination and Viability of Weed Seeds After 2.5 Years in a 50-Year Buried Seed Study

Abstract

In 1972, a 50-yr study of seed longevity was initiated at Stoneville, Mississippi. Weed seeds were collected from 20 locallygrown species and mixed with soil. Replicate samples were placed in polypropylene screen envelopes and buried at soil depths of 8, 23, and 38 cm. Seed germination and viability were determined by germination tests and 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) treatments with recovered seeds. In general, the depth of burial had little effect on seed longevity. Based on the averages of the means at the three depths, the percentages of seeds still viable after burial for 2.5 yr were: spurred anoda [Anoda cristata(L.) Schlecht.] 71%; purple moonflower(Ipomoea turbinataLagasca y Segura) 71%; johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense(L.) Pers.] 62%; velvetleaf(Abutilon theophrastiMedic.) 58%; goosegrass [Eleusine indica(L.) Gaertn.] 33%; hemp sesbania [Sesbania exaltata(Raf.) Cory] 29%; Texas panicum(Panicum taxanumBuckl.) 24%; common cocklebur(Xanthium pensylvanicumWallr.) 18%; common eveningprimrose(Oenothera biennisL.) 14%; large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis(L.) Scop.] 12%; sicklepod(Cassia obtusifoliaL.) 10%; common purslane(Portulaca oleraceaL.) 10%; white morningglory(Ipomoea lacunosaL.) 8%; redroot pigweed(Amaranthus retroflexusL.) 7%; prostrate spurge(Euphorbia supinaRaf.) 6%; prickly sida(Sida spinosaL.) 5%; redvine(Brunnichia cirrhosaGaertn.) 3%; Florida beggarweed [Desmodium tortuosum(Sw.) DC.] 3%; barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli(L.) Beauv.] 1%; and chickweed [Stellaria media(L.) Cyrillo] 0%.