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Germination characteristics of two yellow bluestems, Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Munda, Bruce David, 1953- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 28/09/2021 09:06:55 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278306 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. 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Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Order Number 1352369 Germination characteristics of two yellow bluestems, Bothriochloa tschaemum (L.) Keng. Munda, Bruce David, M.S. The University of Arizona, 1993 U MI 300 N. ZeebRd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 GERMINATION CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO YELLOW BLUESTEMS, Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng. by Bruce David Munda A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE WITH A MAJOR IN AGRONOMY AND PLANT GENETICS In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1993 2 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: ^ Albert K. Dobrenz ? Date Professor of Plant Sciences 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENT My special appreciation goes to Dr. Albert Dobrenz for without his guidance, support, and never ending enthusiasm I would have never completed this thesis. Extended appreciation to Dr. K.C. Hamilton and Dr. Bruce Roundy for guidance, advice, and willingness to serve on my graduate committee for such a long time. Thank you to my committee members and other researchers I have had the pleasure to work with at the University of Arizona for stimulating my desire to learn more. I acknowledge the Soil Conservation Service for allowing me the time and facilities to pursue an advanced degree. My appreciation to the Plant Materials Program for developing my interest in plants and ecological processes and challenging me to become a better agronomist and ecologist. I thank Maggie and our children, Mikel and Byron, for their support and tolerance during those stressful periods over the past 8/4 years. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 6 LIST OF TABLES 7 ABSTRACT 8 INTRODUCTION 9 LITERATURE REVIEW 12 Germination 12 Seed Appendages 19 Seed Respiration 26 MATERIALS AND METHODS 30 Experiment 1 31 Experiment 2 32 Experiment 3 34 Experiment 4 35 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 37 Experiment 1: Comparison of Ganada and P.I. 237110 at three constant temperatures 37 Percent Germination 37 Time to 50% Germination 40 Experiment 2: Comparison of respiration rates for Ganada and P.I. 237110 under four osmotic potentials 43 Experiment 3: Comparison of Ganada, P.I. 237110, Vaughn sideoats grama, and Cochise lovegrass 46 Percent Germination 46 Time to 50% Germination 46 Experiment 4: Comparison of Ganada, P.I. 237110, cane bluestem, Vaughn sideoats grama, and Arizona cottontop across three seed conditioning treatments 50 Percent Germination 50 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS - continued Time to 50% Germination 53 SUMMARY 57 REFERENCES 59 6 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1. Mean total germination for Ganada and P.I. 237110 yellow bluestem averaged across three constant temperatures of 15.6,21.1, and 32.2°C 38 2. Mean total germination at three constant temperatures for Ganada and P.I. 237110 yellow bluestem 39 3. Time to 50% of total germination for Ganada and P.I. 237110 yellow bluestem 41 4. Seed respiration rates for Ganada and P.I. 237110 yellow bluestem for four osmotic potentials (0, -0.4, -0.8, and -1.2 MPa) 44 5. Mean total germination for P.I. 237110 and Ganada yellow bluestem, Vaughn sideoats grama, and Cochise lovegrass at an alternating temperature of 35°C (8h) and 20°C (6h) 47 6. Time to 50% of total germination for P.I. 237110 and Ganada yellow bluestem, Vaughn sideoats grama, and Cochise lovegrass 49 7 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Mean total germination for control, brush, and caryopsis treatment for P.I. 237110 and Ganada yellow bluestem, Vaughn sideoats grama, Arizona cottontop, and cane bluestem 52 2. Time (incubation days) to 50% of total germination for P. I. 237110 and Ganada yellow bluestem, Vaughn sideoats grama, Arizona cottontop, and cane bluestem for three seed conditioning treatments 55 8 ABSTRACT Germination responses of P.I. 237110 and 'Ganada' yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng.) were compared in four experiments. P.I. 237110 had the highest total germination for all seed conditioning treatments. At the lowest temperature (15.6°C) P.I. 237110 did not germinate and Ganada had a low total germination. P.I. 237110 and Ganada require high (>20°C) incubation temperatures for optimum germination. Seed conditioning treatments did not significantly increase total germination for P.I. 237110 or Ganada. The caryopsis treatment gave the highest percent germination for all germplasm except Ganada. P.I. 237110 had the fastest time to 50% germination for all seed conditioning treatments. Seed conditioning did not significantly affect time to 50% germination for P.I. 237110 or Ganada. Ganada had significantly higher respiration rates than P.I. 237110 at 0 and -0.4 MPa but not at -0.8 and -1.2 MPa. Respiration rates for both germplasm decreased as osmotic concentrations became more negative. 9 INTRODUCTION Irrigated agriculture is of major economic importance in the Southwest. Unfortunately, it has relied on a finite natural resource-groundwater. As water tables have dropped pumping costs have increased and the quantity and quality of groundwater have deteriorated causing abandonment of marginal farming operations. In 1980 the State of Arizona passed the Groundwater Management Act which restricts groundwater pumping. As farmland was retired from agricultural production the water rights were transferred to another location and use (Cox and Madrigal 1988). Cities, mines, and other water users have purchased farmland and its water rights to assure a supply of groundwater for future growth. To date as much as 50% of the agricultural land between Phoenix and Tucson (2,200 square kilometers) has been abandoned (Jackson et al. 1991). Over 200,000 ha of land in Arizona may be involved in water right transfers (Thacker and Cox 1992). The USDA Soil Conservation Service Plant Materials Program has been screening plant materials for rangeland revegetation, critical area stabilization, and revegetation of abandoned cropland since 1933. The Tucson Plant Materials Center (TPMC) has evaluated and developed establishment techniques such as pitting, contour planting, and planting into a dead litter mulch for soil stabilization and the establishment of forage and cover for wildlife and livestock on retired or abandoned cropland (Munda et al. 1991; USDA-SCS, Farmers Bulletin No. 1913, Wash. D.C. 1942). 10 Yellow bluestem is a perennial, warm season, C4 bunchgrass (Waller and Lewis 1979) that may have potential for revegetation of abandoned farmland. It was introduced to the United States in the early 1930's from Eurasia and the Middle East. The inflorescence is an unbranched raceme arranged subdigitally on an axis distinctly shorter than the longest raceme (Taliafero et al. 1972). Method of seed production is reported to be apomictic (Christoff 1976). It has been used in revegetation efforts throughout the southern half of the United States. In Southern New Mexico yellow bluestem has been easily established on sandy and loamy soils that were previously vegetated with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata Vail) (Herbel et al. 1973). Most irrigated farmland soils have loam to clay loam surface textures. Revegetation efforts on soil with surface textures of sandy loams or lighter have generally been successful.