Conyza bonariensis growth and development according to thermal time accumulation and photoperiod

Abstract: The objective of this work was to characterize the growth and development of hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) according to thermal accumulation and photoperiod, at different sowing times, and to propose a scale representing the main plant development stages. The experiment was carried out with ten replicates in the 2011/2012 growing season. The sowing dates were: 05/31/2011, 07/04/2011, 08/03/2011, 09/09/2011, and 11/07/2011. Plant height (cm) and phenology were evaluated weekly. The duration of the different stages (days) and thermal time accumulation (°C day) were determined. The linear regression analysis showed that plant height was related to thermal time accumulation. Regardless of the sowing date, the vegetative stage had a longer duration (in days and in ºC day) than the reproductive stage. Sowing on 11/07/2011 promoted the shortening of the vegetative stage, and the rosette stage did not occur. Flowering was induced in the photoperiod between 12.5 and 13.5 hours of light, regardless of the sowing date. Slow growth was observed at lower temperature conditions, when plants accumulated 30.9 and 16.3°C day per centimeter of height for the 05/31/2011 and 11/07/2011 sowing dates, respectively. The phenology scale adequately predicts the development stages of hairy fleabane.