Dormência e longevidade em sementes de buva (Conyza spp)

Abstract

Horseweed (Conyza spp.) is a worldwide disseminated weed, occurring in disseminated areas of South America. Specially adapted to no-till systems, where it evolved along with the use of genetically modified crops with glyphosate resistance, creating biotypes resistant to this herbicide, aggravating the problem of the management and control of this specie. Therefore, the research objectives were: to evaluate the horseweed seed dormancy, testing pre-germination treatments to overcome seed dormancy in different storage periods; to assess the effect of storage temperature on seed germination and longevity; and to determine the burial depth effect in soil seeds banks longevity. For this, field and laboratory experiments were conducted, using collected seeds from flowers in final maturation phase. The variables evaluated as a percentage (%) were: first and second count germination, adnormal seedlings, seeds: remnants, dead, hard, viable and non-viable. The results show that horseweed seed has primary physiological dormancy type, and soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours or storage at 25º C for 53 days are effective treatments to overcome this dormancy. The seed burial depth at 0,5 cm, induce secondary dormancy, when storage at 10, 20 and 30º C, however, at 20 and 30º C, physiological quality is affected. The horseweed seed bank was reduced by 59% in one year, while the burial, regardless of the depth, seeds can induce secondary dormancy. Seed burial at greater depths, have longevity and superior physiological quality.