Evaluation of different treatments on break seed dormancy of Dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yunck)

A pot experiment was conducted under field conditions in Al-Qizuina district-province of Najaf during the ۲۰۱۷ growing season in order to pre-planting control of field dodder )Cuscuta campestris( by breaking its seed dormancy and reducing seed banks in the soil. The experiment tested ۵۶ treatments (chemical, biological and physical) in a complete randomized design with four replicates. Results showed significant differences between treatments. Gibberelic acid at ۸۰۰ ppm resulted in the highest germination rates of the dodder seeds (۹۲%), while KNO۳ had the highest speed of seed germination (۷.۶ days). Some other concentrations of Gibberellic acid, Salicylic acid, Ethrel and KNO۳, and seed extracts of Maize, Barley and Alfalfa as well as the physical treatment of boiling water had significant effects on the dodder seeds in terms of germination rates which ranged from ۱۹ to ۵۱% and germination speed that ranged from ۸.۴ to ۱۵.۴ days compared to the control treatment which resulted in ۰.۷۵% and ۲۰.۸۲ days, respectively. The study confirmed that using high efficient treatments in breaking dormancy and increasing seed germination of dodder as pre-planting measurements can be practically applied in the integrate management of this pest.

Keywords:

Cuscuta , Field dodder , gibberellic acid , KNO۳ , Seed extract