View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
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Germination physiology<br />
exhibited higher percentage germination, the MGT was significantly greater than for<br />
the other treatments. Cold stratification <strong>of</strong> seeds for 14 and 21 days significantly<br />
increased percentage germination in comparison to the non-stratified seeds with<br />
significantly shorter MGT (some seeds germinated during stratification period) (Table<br />
4.2).<br />
R. flava seeds showed some germination both under 16 h photoperiod and constant<br />
dark conditions at 15°C. However, 14 and 21 days <strong>of</strong> stratification at 5°C <strong>of</strong> seeds<br />
achieved significantly greater percentage germination compared to all other<br />
treatments examined. Twenty-one day stratification had the shortest MGT <strong>of</strong> only one<br />
day due to the incidence <strong>of</strong> germination during the treatment period (Table 4.2).<br />
In the case <strong>of</strong> R. monadelpha, placing seeds at 15°C in the dark was the only<br />
treatment that significantly increased germination compared to the other treatments<br />
(Table 4.2).<br />
R. rosea seeds had significantly higher percentage germination when placed at 10°C<br />
both under 16 h photoperiod and constant dark in comparison to other treatments.<br />
Mean germination time was also significantly shorter for these treatments (Table 4.2).<br />
Warm stratification did not significantly increase percentage germination in<br />
comparison to the seeds incubated at 10°C. Seed germination <strong>of</strong> this species at 20-<br />
35°C was very low. These temperatures are generally favourable for many weed<br />
species, seeds <strong>of</strong> R. rosea were therefore tested for nutrients, plant growth<br />
promoting substances and smoke components at only 20 ± 0.5°C. In this experiment,<br />
seeds that were treated with KNO3 and IBA solutions <strong>of</strong> 10 -5 M yielded significantly<br />
higher percentage germination over the control (water) (Figure 4.5). Percentage<br />
germination at HS 50% (all nutrients), -K, kinetin, NAA, IAA and butenolide<br />
treatments showed an increase compared to control (water). However, these results<br />
were not significantly different to the control (water). No germination was recorded for<br />
GA3 and smoke-water-treated seeds.<br />
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