Methods of breaking physical dormancy in seeds of the invasive weed Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae) and a comparison with 36 other species in the genus

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13567
• Publication Date: 2022-06-08T08:31:52Z
• Authors: Li Tang; Carol Baskin; Jerry Baskin; Kai Luo; Xiaohui Yu; Wei Huang; Rui Zhang; Yinhua Chen
• Keywords: Mimosa pudica; Scarification; Herbaceous plant

The herbaceous perennial legume Mimosa pudica is an invasive weed in many tropical and subtropical regions a serious problem for farmers since it difficult to eliminate from crop field by hand. Moreover, has water impermeable seeds, i.e. , physical dormancy (PY), which could persist the soil seed bank long period of time, thus making big challenge control. aims this study were test effect various laboratory methods on breaking PY seeds M. identify site(s) entry into compare results dormancy-breaking with those 36 other species reported literature. Mechanical scarification, wet heat cycles ice effectively broke . Following at 80 °C 10 min, uptake was via hilar region but not pleurogram; small cracks made pleurogram treatment deep enough enter seed. Neither tolerance summer temperatures nor likely be cause invasiveness species, rare endemic also tolerate have PY.