ENDOGENOUS FLUCTUATIONS OF GERMINATION CAPACITY IN DACTYLIS GLOMERATA

Kummerow, Jochen. (U. Chile, Santiago.) Endogenous fluctuations of germination capacity in Dactylis glomerata. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(9): 915–920. Illus. 1963.—Dactylis glomerata caryopses, ‘New Zealand’ strain, furnished by the Ministerio de Agricultura of Chile, were enclosed in test tubes, carefully sealed with a Bunsen flame, and stored under constant conditions. Their germination capacity was periodically determined. In 1958/1959, a 2-peak annual germination curve was obtained. The germination increase was related with a diminution of the water content of the caryopses. The same material was seeded in 8 different zones of the Chilean Central Valley between 28°34′ and 40°35′ S. lat. The same germination procedures were practiced with the caryopses harvested in these 8 parcels. In the 1960/1962 period, 1-peak germination curves were found. We did not find the same relation between water content and germination as found in 1958/ 1959. There exists a certain relation between the velocity of germination and caryopsis origin. The velocity of germination decreases from north to south.