Light- and Temperature-Dependent Dormancy in Stored Seed of Poa pratensis L. from Northern Norway

Abstract

Seed dormancy and slow germination often cause poor establishment of Poa pratensis L. in lawns and pastures. This study was conducted to determine whether persistent dormancy occurs and the influence of light and temperature on germination of Poa pratensis L. strains from Northern Norway. Seed from 23 different genotypes and seed lots was germinated in various phytotron chambers during the winters of 1986 and 1990. At 21°C constant temperature, dormancy was evident even after seven years of storage in a dry room at 0–10°C. By contrast, alternating temperatures (21/12°C) elicited 80–100% germination of viable seed of nearly all genotypes and seed lots. Light treatment had no impact on germination after 28 days at 21/12°C, but continuous darkness and continuous fluorescent light were both inferior to 8 h light/16 h dark illumination cycles at 21°C constant temperature. Seed of the commercial cultivar Lavang produced in Southern Norway developed the same long-term, temperature-dependent dormancy as seed produced in Northern Norway. One lot of the cultivar Holt showed a higher ability to germinate at low temperatures than any of the other genotypes.