Germination of two species of Conyza seeds as a function of the presence or absence of light and interaction with the addition of nitrate and gibberellic acid in the substrate

Conyza canadensis and C. bonariensis infest crops with annual and perennial life cycle worldwide. Environmental factors, such as the presence of certain chemical compounds, may significantly interfere with the germination of horseweed, which is important to understand the dynamics of infestation of these species. This work aimed to study the effect of potassium nitrate and gibberellic acid on germination of Conyza canadensis and C. bonariensis in the presence or absence of light. The seed germination occurred in substrate moistened with water, potassium nitrate (20mM), gibberellic acid (1mM) and nitrate + GA3 (20mM + 1mM, respectively). The treatments were maintained under light (12 hours) or in darkness. The seeds of both species are photoblastic positive, with no germination in the dark, even in the presence of the chemical compounds studied.