LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND DURATION OF STORAGE GOVERN THE GERMINATION ANDEMERGENCE OF TARAXACUM-OFFICINALE SEED

Experiments were carried out on the effects of storage, light, tempera ture and depth of sowing on germination and-emergence of seeds of dand elion (Taraxacum officinale L.). Treatments were arranged in factorial combinations of two light regimes, two temperature and four sowing de pths in a completely randomized design followed by repeated measuremen ts. Seeds were stored at 4 degrees C and room temperature for nine mon ths. Germination and emergence were tested under light and total darkn ess at 25 degrees C and 10 degrees C. The emergence tests consisted of 0.0 cm, 1.0 cm, 2.5 cm and 4.0 cm depths of sowing under similar ligh t and temperature conditions to those used for germination tests. Seed s stored at +4 degrees C for nine months had minimum reduction in cumu lative germination, but storage at room temperature exceeding three mo nths drastically reduced germination. Light and a higher temperature o f 25 degrees C promoted faster, uniform germination, while in darkness , the achievement of 50% of the final germination percentage (T-50) wa s delayed and a longer mean emergence time was needed. Similarly, shal low sowing of seeds at 0.0 cm and 1.0 cm depths under light and higher temperature promoted faster and uniform germination and emergence tha n deeper sown-seeds in darkness and/or at lower temperature. If faster and uniform emergence and plant establishment is desired, dandelion s eed should be sown not more than 1.0 cm deep.