AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Dormancy in seeds of eight weeds, collected in the Province of Quebec, was studied in 1949 and 1950. The work reported herein was aimed at determining the presence of dormancy in freshly harvested seed; the effect of dry storage; the effect of stratification at low temperatures both in the laboratory and under simulated field conditions; the germinating capacity of unstratified seed in the soil; and the share of the seed coats in delaying germination. Germinating capacity of freshly harvested seed varied, depending on species, from zero to almost 100%. Dry storage was beneficial in increasing the germination percentages. Stratification at low temperature was effective with some species and, ineffective with others. Germination of small-seeded species declined with deeper sowing. Seed coats proved more or less important in delaying germination. Embryo dormancy was found to vary with the different species ranging from complete absence to more than one year. [...]