Populations of arable weed species show intra-specific variability in germination base temperature but not in early growth rate

Abstract

Key plant traits affecting growth performance can differ among and within species, influencing competitive plant community dynamics. We determined the intra-specific variability of germination base temperature among 13 arable weed species and the seedlings' early post-emergence relative growth rate among 21 species in climate chamber and green house experiments. Intra-specific variability was quantified with two seed populations (originating from contrasting climate in Germany & France) for the germination base temperature of 6 species and for the early growth rate of 16 species. Inter-specific variability for both traits was always higher than intra-specific variability. Within a given species, we found that germination base temperatures were higher in seeds stemming from colder climate populations. Seedling relative growth rates did not differ between seed populations. Models simulating weed growth should reflect these differences in germination traits among populations, especially when they are used for weed community assembly studies in a local to regional extent.