The effects of light and temperature on germination of Typha subulata
were examined under a combination of various temperature and light reg
imes. The influence of different storage environments was studied by p
lacing the seeds in the dark under air-dry conditions or immersed in w
ater at 4 +/- 1 and 21 +/- 3C and tested for germination after 6 and 1
4 months. The significance of salinity was assayed by incubating the s
eeds in sodium chloride solutions. The seeds of T. subulata exhibited
a high potential for germination (88 to 98%) in a wide range (10 to 35
C) of continuous or alternate temperatures. After the 6-month-storage
pretreatment, germination was close to 100% in all treatments. The 14-
month-old samples showed a germination rate higher than 96% when they
were maintained under dry conditions at both temperatures. However, ge
rmination decreased to 64% at 4C and 0% at 21C under wet storage, The
germination was affected by salinity only at high concentrations. Thes
e results indicate that in the irrigation districts of southern Argent
ina, the infesting potential of this weed could be minimized by disrup
ting the sexual reproductive cycle and by maintaining wet channel beds
during the period of irrigation recess.