Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T14:11:01.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproductive biology of yellow starthistle: maximizing late-season control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Carri B. Benefield ,
Joseph M. DiTomaso ,
Guy B. Kyser  and
Alison Tschohl
Carri B. Benefield
Affiliation:
Weed Science Program, Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Guy B. Kyser
Affiliation:
Weed Science Program, Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Alison Tschohl
Affiliation:
Weed Science Program, Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Field studies at three sites and growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine the reproductive potential, flower phenology, seed viability and germination, and overall seedbank longevity of yellow starthistle in the Central Valley of California. At the three study sites, seedheads contained an average of between 65 and 83 achenes. Overall, 85% of the achenes were the interior pappus-bearing type, and the remaining 15% were the outer nonpappus-bearing type. Germinable seed did not initially develop until the late corolla senescence stage 8 d after flower initiation. Seed germination and viability 1 wk after dispersal were similar (86 and 91%, respectively). Comparison in flower phenology in 1996 and 1997 indicated that development from initial anthesis to achene dispersal more closely corresponded to days, rather than thermal units. In the field, germinable seed was produced when more than 2% of the total seedheads had initiated anthesis. To minimize seed production with late-season control methods, such as prescribed burning, mowing, or herbicide treatment, management strategies should be timed before the plant population has advanced beyond the 2% flower initiation stage. Over 84% of the seed germinated under growth chamber conditions 1 wk after seedheads reached the dispersal stage. This indicates that most yellow starthistle seed had little or no after-ripening requirements. In a field experiment, yellow starthistle seed germination corresponded to seasonal rainfall. A total of 44 and 39% of the pappus-bearing and nonpappus-bearing seed, respectively, germinated after one growing season. Of seed recovered from the soil after the first growing season, 88 and 81% of the pappus-bearing and nonpappus-bearing seed, respectively, was either damaged or degraded. From projected values based on recovered and germinated seed, it was estimated that over 97% of the total seed was removed from the soil seedbank after two growing seasons. These findings should assist land managers in developing long-term yellow starthistle management strategies.

Keywords

Yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis L. CENSOFlower phenologyreproductionseedbankseedling emergenceseed germinationseed longevityseed productionCENSO
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , February 2001 , pp. 83 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © 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

Balciunas, J. and Villegas, B. 1999. Two new seed head flies attack yellow starthistle. Calif. Agric. 53 (2): 8–11.Google Scholar
Benefield, C. B., DiTomaso, J. M., Kyser, G. B., Orloff, S. B., Churches, K. R., Marcum, D. B., and Nader, G. A. 1999. Control of yellow star-thistle with mowing: effects of timing, repeated cuttings, and growth form. Calif. Agric. 5 (2): 17–21.Google Scholar
Callihan, R. H., Prather, T. S., and Northam, F. E. 1992. Recolonization strategies and longevity of yellow starthistle achenes in soil. Knapweed 6 (3): 3–4.Google Scholar
Callihan, R. H., Prather, T. S., and Northam, F. E. 1993. Longevity of yellow starthistle achenes in soil. Weed Technol. 7:33–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callihan, R. H., Smith, L., and Michalson, E. L. 1995. Yellow Starthistle Management for Small Acreages. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho College of Agriculture Current Infomation Ser. CIS 1025. 4 p.Google Scholar
DiTomaso, J. M., Kyser, G. B., and Hastings, M. S. 1999a. Prescribed burning for control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and enhanced native plant diversity. Weed Sci. 47:233–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiTomaso, J. M., Kyser, G. B., Orloff, S. B., Enloe, S. F., and Nader, G. A. 1999b. New growth regulator herbicide provides excellent control of yellow starthistle. Calif. Agric. 53 (2): 12–16.Google Scholar
DiTomaso, J. M., Lanini, W. T., Thomsen, C. D., Prather, T. S., Turner, C. E., Smith, M. J., Elmore, C. L., Vayssieres, M. P., and Williams, W. A. 1999c. Pest Notes: Yellow Starthistle. Oakland, CA: University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Publ. 7402. 4 p.Google Scholar
Gerlach, J. D. Jr. 1997. The introduction, dynamics of geographic range expansion, and ecosystem effects of yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Proc. Calif. Weed Sci. Soc. 49:136–141.Google Scholar
Joley, D. B., Maddox, D. M., Supkoff, D. M., and Mayfield, A. 1992. Dynamics of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) achenes in the field and laboratory. Weed Sci. 40:190–194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maddox, D. M. 1981. Introduction, Phenology, and Density of Yellow Starthistle in Coastal, Intercoastal, and Central Valley Situations in California. Albany, CA: USDA ARS ARR-W-20. 33 p.Google Scholar
Maddox, D. M., Joley, D. B., Supkoff, D. M., and Mayfield, A. 1996. Pollination biology of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) in California. Can. J. Bot. 74:262–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mielke, P. W., Berry, K. J., Brockwell, P. J., and Williams, J. S. 1981. A class of nonparametric techniques based on multiresponse permutation procedures. Biometrika 68:720–724.Google Scholar
Olivieri, I. and Berger, A. 1985. Seed dimorphism for dispersal: physiologic, genetic and demographical aspects. Pages 413–429 In Jacquard, P., ed. Genetic Differentiation. Dispersal in Plants. Berlin: Springer Verlag.Google Scholar
Pitcairn, M. J., O’Connell, R. A., and Gendron, J. M. 1997. Yellow star-thistle: survey of statewide distribution. Pages 53–56 In Biological Control Program Annual Summary, 1996. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Food Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.Google Scholar
Roché, B. F. 1965. Ecologic Studies of Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.). Ph.D. dissertation. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, pp. 78–89.Google Scholar
Roché, B. F. 1991. Achene dispersal in yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.). Northwest Sci. 66:62–65.Google Scholar
Roché, C. T., Thill, D. C., and Shafii, B. 1997. Reproductive phenology in yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Weed Sci. 45:763–770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheley, R. L., Zamora, D. L., Huston, C., Callihan, R. H., and Thill, D. C. 1983. Seed and Seedling Root Growth Characteristics of Several Populations of Yellow Starthistle. Research Progress Report of the Western Society of Weed Science, pp. 62–63.Google Scholar
Thomsen, C. D., Vayssieres, M., and Williams, W. A. 1994. Grazing and mowing management of yellow starthistle. Proc. Calif. Weed Conf. 46:228–230.Google Scholar
White, J. 1999. Can integrated methods stop starthistle? Calif. Agric. 53 (2): 7.Google Scholar