Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) germination and emergence as affected by temperature and seed burial depth

Doveweed is becoming more common in agronomic crops in North Carolina. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of temperature and seed burial depth on doveweed germination and emergence. Germination of lightly scarified seed at constant temperature was well described by a Gaussian model, which estimated peak germination at 28 C. Similar maximum percentage of germination was observed for optimal treatments under both constant and alternating temperatures. Among alternating temperatures, a 35/25 C regime gave greatest germination (77%). In spite of similar average daily temperatures, germination was greater with alternating temperature regimes of 40/30 and 40/35 C (65 and 30%, respectively) than constant temperatures of 36 and 38 C (4 and 0%, respectively). No germination was observed at 38 C constant temperature or for alternating temperature regimes of 20/10 and 25/15 C. Light did not enhance germination. Greatest emergence occurred from 0 to 1 cm, with a reduction in emergence as depth increased to 4 cm. No emergence occurred from 6 cm or greater depth. This information on seedbank dynamics may aid in developing tools and strategies for management.