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Seed germination of agricultural weeds is promoted by the butenolide 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one under laboratory and field conditions

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Abstract

Here we report that a synthesised form of a naturally occurring chemical (a butenolide, 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one) found in smoke can stimulate seedling emergence of the economically important weed species Avena fatua L. (Poaceae), Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns (Asteraceae), Brassica tournefortii Gouan (Brassicaceae), and Raphanus raphanistrum L. (Brassicaceae) under field conditions at rates equivalent to 2–20 g/ha a.i. The butenolide also stimulates germination of freshly collected seeds from wild populations of these species, as well as those of Sisymbrium orientale L. (Brassicaceae), Hordeum leporinum Link (Poaceae) and Echium plantagineum L. (Boraginaceae) under laboratory conditions, consistently greater than that of smoke water. Experiments using B. tournefortii seeds collected from several locations across Western Australia and in different growing seasons found that these factors significantly influence the butenolide response, implying a role of the maternal environment in seed germination/dormancy characteristics. This research highlights the potential of butenolide as an agent for broad acre weed control and land restoration.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partly supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Australia (BGP00001, JCS), the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Projects funding scheme (DP0559058, GRF) and Linkage Projects funding scheme (LP0455415, DJM). The authors also wish to thank HH and JM Maitland and Son (Wyalkatchem) Mr. R. Monger (York), Mr. E. Ailing (York) and the Department of Food and Agriculture Western Australia (Beverly) for providing access to field sites and their assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Fraser Ave, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, Australia

    J. C. Stevens, D. J. Merritt & K. W. Dixon

  2. School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    J. C. Stevens, D. J. Merritt & K. W. Dixon

  3. School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    G. R. Flematti & E. L. Ghisalberti

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  1. J. C. Stevens
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  2. D. J. Merritt
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  3. G. R. Flematti
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  4. E. L. Ghisalberti
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  5. K. W. Dixon
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Correspondence to J. C. Stevens.

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Stevens, J.C., Merritt, D.J., Flematti, G.R. et al. Seed germination of agricultural weeds is promoted by the butenolide 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one under laboratory and field conditions. Plant Soil 298, 113–124 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9344-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9344-z

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