GERMINATION OF RAPISTRUM-RUGOSUM (L) ALL FROM NEW-SOUTH-WALES, AUSTRALIA

Samples of Rapistrum rugosum seeds were collected throughout the state of New South Wales in order to examine dormancy and germination requirements of the species. There were significant phenotypic differences in temperature response between samples. These did not obviously correlate with any environmental or geographic trends. Optimal temperature range for germination was between 10-degrees-C and 25-degrees-C, with a base temperature of about 5-degrees-C. The width of the temperature optimum increased during storage, with germination increasing particularly at higher temperatures. Seeds unable to germinate at low temperatures appeared to be induced into dormancy; this could be broken at least partly by dry storage at 35-degrees-C. There was slightly better germination in dark conditions, but this effect was lost during after-ripening. Seed samples varied in their ability to germinate at different soil depths. Losses of both distal and proximal seeds were rapid, even in the absence of successful germination.