Seed Germination and Plant Growth under Drought Stress of Herbicide-Resistant and Herbicide-Susceptible Biotypes of Conyza Species and Smart Farming Approaches

Abstract

Horseweed (C. canadensis) and fleabane (C. sumatrensis) are two annual or perennial herbaceous weeds present with high frequency and density in many parts of the world. Their response to water deficit was studied by means of seed germination tests and pot experiments. Seed germination was tested in solutions with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Two biotypes of each species were examined, one glyphosate resistant and the other susceptible. Growth responses were similar in the two species, both being more affected by lower (−1 MPa) than higher water potential (−0.2 MPa). The results revealed a significant effect of the biotype and the weed species on the drought stress response and adaptation. When high PEG concentrations were applied (−0.6 MPa), both C. sumatrensis biotypes had higher germination percentages (up to 88%) than the C. canadensis biotypes, while in most cases the seeds of the resistant biotypes germinated more (up to 72%) compared to the susceptible ones. These findings were confirmed by means of NDVI values, indicating that remote sensing can be used for a quick evaluation of the drought stress response of these weeds. The results obtained highlight the significant effect of species, biotypes and drought stress level on the germination, survival and growth of the weeds.