Environmental factors influencing Lolium temulentum L. (Darnel ryegrass) seed germination

Abstract

Darnel ryegrass (Lolium temulentum L.) is an annual long-day plant belonging to the Poaceae family, that common in grain fields worldwide. L. temulentum is a valuable model grass species for studying stress in forage and turf grasses. This study was conducted to study the impact of critical environmental factors on the seed biology of L. temulentum seeds from agricultural districts in southern Iraq were gathered within 2020, and testing was conducted at Erciyes University's Faculty of Agriculture labs in Kayseri. The findings of this study indicated that the seeds of this weed germinate in three days at temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C, 14 days at 10 to 15 °C, and 28 days at 5 ° C. Furthermore, at a temperature of 35 °C to 40 °C, the seeds did not germinate for 28 days. After 14 days, this species' most significant germination percentage was 91.6 % at 10 °C and 20 °C. Seeds did not germinate when incubated for 14 days under continuous darkness, whereas germinated at 32.5% when subjected to light for 12 h daily. Also, the results showed no significant effect of examined pH and different salinity levels on seed germination of L. temulentum.