Influence of different temperatures on germination of wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)

A good understanding of seed ecology of weed species is important in evaluating the invasibility potential of some weed species, and in constructing efficient programmes for the eradication of weeds. Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) are two widespread weed species in the territory of Serbia, so the knowledge of their seed ecology is a necessity. Germination of their seeds was examined at different temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40ºC). Germination rates were calculated based on everyday monitoring of the number of germinated seeds, and 7 days after the initiation of the experiment, the final germination percent was determined. Percent of germinated seeds of A. fatua was highest at 10ºC (90%), and lowest at 35ºC (6,87%), while the germination rate was highest at 25ºC (7,9 germinated seeds/day), and lowest at 30ºC (0,79 germinated seeds/day). In contrast, the germination percent for A. artemisiifolia was highest at 40ºC (2,08%), while no germination was registered at 5 - 10ºC temperature range. The germination rate of common ragweed was highest at 30ºC (7,84 germinated seeds/day), and lowest at 40ºC (0,7 germinated seeds/day). .