Viability of Taraxacum officinale seeds after anthesis

Abstract

Martinkova Z, Honek A & Lukas J (2011). Viability of Taraxacum officinale seeds after anthesis. Weed Research51, 508–515.SummaryThe management of Taraxacum officinale in lawns can be improved by understanding the timing of seed maturation. The development of T. officinale seed from flowering to dispersal was studied in 2008 and 2009. Percentage germination, time to 50% germination, seed mass and peduncle length increased with elapsed time since the end of flowering. Only seed collected more than 5 days after the end of flowering (DAF) germinated, and germination was not affected by cutting the capitulum from the peduncle. Seed mass increased up to 8 DAF and peduncle length up to 13 DAF. Seasonal variation in the length of time required for seed to mature in closed capitula was established at monthly intervals in 2009. This period decreased from 13 DAF in spring and autumn, to 8 DAF in summer, and time necessary to produce viable seed decreased from 6 to 3 DAF. Variation in the rate of seed maturation decreased when calendar time was converted to thermal time expressed as day degrees above a 0°C base temperature. Cutting inflorescences at 5–6‐day intervals beginning at the onset of flowering in summer or 9‐day intervals in spring and autumn may prevent T. officinale from reproducing by seed.