Response of Weed Seeds to Ethylene and Related Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Abstract Germination of seeds of 10 grass and 33 broadleaved weed species was examined for response to ethylene. Germination was promoted in nine species, inhibited in two, and not affected in the remainder. Of the species promoted, common purslane ( Portulaca oleracea L.), common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album L.), and several Amaranths, including redroot pigweed ( Amaranthus retroflexus L.), were affected most. Transformation of phytochrome to the active form (P fr ) gave interactions that ranged from none to syntergistic with the applied ethylene. In subsequent tests seeds of purslane, redroot pigweed, and giant foxtail ( Setaria faberi Herrm.), a species not responsive to ethylene, were examined for germination response to 14 low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases other than ethylene. Some stimulation by the olefins propylene and propadiene was found for purslane and pigweed. Propionaldehyde and butyraldehyde were slightly stimulatory to purslane only.