Effects of Light and Temperature for Germination of Persicaria capitata Seeds, an Alien Species

Abstract

We investigated effects of light and temperature for germination of Persicaria capitata seeds, an alien species, which recently invades rivers in Japan. We made germination experiments from May to December, 2015, using seeds of wild plants, under controlling light, temperature and changing temperature. As a result, differences of average germination rates between lighting and no-lighting, and temperature changing and no- changing were not significant at the 5% level. The average germination rate of a plot, whose average temperature was 30°C, was significantly lower than the rate of a plot whose average temperature was 25°C. Thus, it was suggested the light condition doesn’t significantly affect germination of P.capitata seeds, and the germination is inhibited in 30°C or higher in temperature.