Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2017
Seed deterioration, and therefore seed germination potential, are highlyinfluenced by relative humidity and temperature. However, limitedspecies-specific information is available about the effect of long-termsoaking in water on seed germination potential. Knowing the potential fateof a creeping bentgrass seed that falls in an irrigation canal is importantfor the study of transgene flow in this species at the landscape level. Theobjectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of soaking time andwater temperature on germination of creeping bentgrass seed and to assesshow fast a panicle could be moved in an irrigation canal. Germination wasdetermined for seeds from panicles of three cultivars of creeping bentgrassthat were soaked in water for up to 17 wk at two water temperatures, 4 and20 C. Creeping bentgrass seeds did not lose their ability to germinate after17 wk in water at 20 C and, although reduced, germination was still 46%after 17 wk in water at 4 C. The reduction in germination in seeds frompanicles kept in water at 4 C was due to the induction of secondarydormancy, which was overcome by dry seed storage at room temperature. Wequantified that a panicle that falls in an irrigation canal has thepotential to travel downstream at an average rate of 19 m min−1and move seeds that could potentially establish seedlings elsewhere.Therefore, movement of creeping bentgrass seed by water has to be consideredas a means of gene flow.
Current address: Researcher, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, 1426, Argentina.