Germination of Australian Channel Millet (Echinochloa turnerana (Domin) J.M. Black) Seeds. II. Effects of Anaerobic Conditions, Continuous Flooding, and Low Water Potential

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1984

Publication Source

Functional Plant Biology

Abstract

Channel millet seeds require a period of substantial wetting (as occurs during flooding) before mass germination is attained in its native environment, while the remainder of the life cycle often occurs under arid conditions. Imbibing seeds in solutions of mannitol or NaCl ranging from 0 to -1.5 MPa slowed germination and seedling growth but, after 14 days of imbibition in the light at 30°C germination was about 50% even at levels of moisture availability as low as -1.0 MPa. High germination percentages were also attained in the light inside flasks flushed continuously with humidified air, humidified N2, or N2 followed by air. Seeds failed to germinate in the dark under any of the above treatments, but did so to a certain extent when subsequently exposed to light. In the absence of O2, seedlings were non-pigmented and without protruding radicles. Under conditions of continuous flooding in stagnant water to a depth of at least 10 cm, channel millet seeds germinated and produced plants which went on to flower within 3 months.

Inclusive pages

409-417

ISBN/ISSN

1445-4408

Comments

Journal was formerly known as Australian Journal of Plant Physiology

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Volume

11

Peer Reviewed

yes

Issue

5

Link to Full Text
Link to published version

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