Patterns of change in dormancy during burial of seeds in soil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Changes in dormancy during burial in soil were recorded over a period of two years for seeds of Polygonum persicaria. Senecio vulgaris, Sisymbrium officinale, Chenopodium bonus-henricus and C. album. Dormancy levels were deduced from germination tests on exhumed seeds under standard conditions in light or darkness. Decreases and increases in dormancy were in most species part of a seasonal cycle, that was repeated in the second year, except for C. bonus-henricus. Both Chenopodium species showed profound differences in the dependency of light for germination during the seasons. C. album showed some characteristics of winter annuals, whereas the other four species behaved like summer annuals. Temperature, nitrate and soil moisture were among the factors that modified dormancy in soil.