Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T18:06:26.505Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of Paraquat on Harvesting and Quality of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Seed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

R. M. Ahring  and
J. F. Stritzke
R. M. Ahring
Affiliation:
Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric, and Prof. Agron., Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078
J. F. Stritzke
Affiliation:
Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric, and Prof. Agron., Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The effects of chemical desiccation of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] before seed harvest on seed yield and quality were studied. Harvest of 57.3% of available seed was obtained with the stripper harvester after chemical desiccation with paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion). Only 44.6% of the available seed was harvested by direct combining after paraquat treatment. This was significantly better than the 31.2% seed obtained by harvesting using the conventional swathing and combining method. Paraquat severely reduced germination of unhulled seeds. The inhibitory effects of paraquat application were removed by hulling or by hulling and scarifying the caryopses before germination. Significant improvement in germination of all seed (unhulled, hulled, and hulled-scarified) resulted from use of 0.2% KNO3 rather than water as a substrate moistening agent.

Keywords

Seed processingharvest methodsdesiccationharvest efficiencygermination
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , January 1982 , pp. 73 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © 1982 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Ahring, R. M., Taliaferro, C. M., and Morrison, R. D. 1974. Seed production of several strains and hybrids of bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.). Pers. Crop Sci. 11:93–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Ahring, R. M., Taliaferro, C. M., and Russell, C. C. 1978. Establishment and management of Old World bluestem grasses for seed. Okla. Agric. Exp. Stn. Tech. Bull. T-149.Google Scholar
3. Appleby, A. P. and Brenchley, R. G. 1968. Influence of paraquat on seed germination. Weed Sci. 16:484–485.Google Scholar
4. Bonin, S. G. and Goplin, B. P. 1963. A histological study of seed shattering in reed canarygrass. Can. J. Plant Sci. 43:200–205.Google Scholar
5. Boonman, J. G. 1973. Experimental studies on seed production of tropical grasses in Kenya. 5. The effect of harvest date on seed yield in varieties of Setaria sphacelata, Chloris gayana, and Panicum coloratum . Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 21:3–11.Google Scholar
6. Egley, G. H. and Williams, R. D. 1978. Glyphosate and paraquat effects on weed seed germination and seedling emergence. Weed Sci. 26:249–251.Google Scholar
7. Griffiths, D. J., Lewis, J., and Bean, E. W. 1966. The problem in breeding for improved seed yields in grasses. Proc. 10th Int. Grassl. Congr., Helsinki. pp. 749–754.Google Scholar
8. Klingman, D. L. and Murray, J. J. 1976. Germination of seeds of turfgrasses as affected by glyphosate and paraquat. Weed Sci. 24:191–193.Google Scholar
9. McWilliam, J. R. 1963. Selection for seed retention in Phalaris tuberosa L. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 14:755–764.Google Scholar