Temperature Influence on Seeded Bermudagrass Germination
Keywords:
seeded bermudagrass, bermudagrass germination, bermudagrass establishmentAbstract
Slow germination of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) seed causes difficulty in stand establishment because of weed competition and drought. Temperature has a major influence on germination rate and total germination. Hulled and unhulled common bermudagrass seed were placed in a germinator for 28 days at night (12 hr)/day (12 hr) temperatures of 5/15, 10/20, 15/25, 20/30, 25/35, and 30/40 °C. Germinated seed were recorded every two days. The best germination of hulled seed was at 20/30°C followed by 25/35 °C and 15/25 °C temperature treatments. Optimum germination of unhulled seed was more specific with the most rapid and total germination at 25/35 °C. Temperature treatments lower than 15/25 °C severely reduced germination rate and total germination of both hulled and unhulled seed. In the southeastern U.S., hulled bermudagrass seed should be planted from mid-April through June and unhulled seed from mid-May through June.