Table Of Contentstudies on the a m m m m , mmnim, m distribution of
johnson m m m m m certain m m m Louisiana
A Dissertation
Submitted to the draSuati Faculty of the
Louisiana State University and
AgriciCLtural and Ifeehanical Golleg*
*« partial Ihzlfilliaent of the
s^qtiireiffl&nta for the degree of
Doe tor of Itoilosaphy
In
The Department of Botany, Bacteriology, and
Plant ethology
by
Ruth Patterson Phillip®
B*A*, Louisiana State University, 193$
M.S., Louisiana State University, 1943
August, 1950
UMI Number: DP69367
All rights reserved
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Unpublished theses submitted for the master*s and doctor*s
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1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS * * * * * * *
ix m m m ........................ *. .. vti
XXX INTRGDUQTIGK * • • . . . . * * * * * * * ♦ • * * . * * 1
X? HESTGRXCift. REVIEW * * * * * * .......... * * * * * * 3
v mamxals m methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX
Gemination of Johnson Grass Seed . • • • * . . . . XI
Clonal Studies of Pollen and Seed Production t » » • 14
Studies on the Distribution of Johnson Grass
Seed in the Soil • • * • * * • • • • • • • « • * 19
Johnson Grass Seed Recovered Between the lm£
Sheath and Stalls of Sugarcane * * * * * * * * * * 21
in studies m « gmxnaxm of jgmmow, m m m m . , , 23
Prelfoitinary investigations of Factors Affecting
Semination of Johnson Gmsa Seeds « » • • # « « 23
Further Investigations of Factors XnflueECing
the Germination of Johnson Grass Seed * * * * * * 30
Gemination of SsrcjiLas of Johnson Grass Seed
from Golleotlone * • # # « « * * » * » * • * * * 41
VII ILQNAL STUDIES OF SEED AND POLLEN HQDUCIIGN * * * * * 59
vin DismxBprxc® of Johnson grass seed in the soil * , . * 72
Studies of Johnson Grass Seed As a Soil Population
in the Sugarcane Areas of Louisiana * * * * * * 72
Johnson Grass Seed Recovered Between the leaf
Sheath and Stalk of Sugarcane • • * » • * • • • * 25
K DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
X 5UMMAKX . ............................* * . * * 96
XX BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . * * * * * ....... W
XXX AUTOBIOCfflAFHI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
XIII LEGEND FOR PLATES * * . * ......... * Id
ill
i*m of f M M
Peg©
X Percentage Gemination of Johnson Grass Seeds with the
Glumes Bmoved, Incubated at Several Constant Tempera*
tea® for 7 days * * * * * * * . . . * » * , „ » . ,**24
II Percentage CtemJLnatiem of ■ Johnson Graso Seed with the
(Eraes on, incubated at Several Constant apd Alternate
lag Temperature Conditions for 10 d^ys. * • • * » • • • 24
HI Modifications of Gei^ainatian Itementages by Various
Mechanical Treatiaoiits of the Olme® and Caryopses* * * * 26
IV (termination of Johnscm Grass Seed Pitring in
Water and at Alternating Temperatures Thereafter « » * * 26
? Percentage Germination of Johnson Grass Seed After
Treatment with Several Chemical® in. Solution for 12
Honrs Previous to taminaiiaa at Alternating
Temperate©® for 10 days* • • • • • » « • * « * • * • * &
11 Gemiiwticin Percentage® of Johnson Grass Seed 4 Pays
After Treatment with Certain Chemicals for 12 tars* * * 32
111 Percentage Gemination of Johnson Grass Seed When
Solutions of Ptptnd $23 Were Used to Moisten the
Substrate • • • • • * » • . • * ' • » » « * , « » # * » 33
VIII Percentage (termination of Johnson Grass Seed When a
&taH Quiu&ity of Different Soils was Added in the
Petri Dishes • * » » • • * , * * • * , * « # » • . * • . 34
IX BemLte Obtained by Ctermlnatlos of 2 Collections of John*
son Grass Seed in the Soils from IS Plantations in 1947. 35
X Studies of the Effect of Soils on tea Cteminfitim of
Johnson Grass Seed in the Fall of 194& and of 1949 ... 36
XX Summary of 3 Teste of Effect of Soils m Ge&d&abictt* • 36
XII Johnson Grass Seedlings appearing abwo (leomtu fro®.
Depths in two Greenhouse Teats in 1947 and 194&* • * • * 37
XIII Percentage Gemination of Johnson Grass Seed after
ftmrtal in tbs • • * • • * • * . * • • • • * • ♦ • • 3 9
XI? Germination as Influenced by Trsatsaent with 29/^0 after
Two tears of Burial in the Soil as Compared to Two
tears of Air*$torage» ........• 40
it
XV Gemination ofJoMatm Grass Seed Collected frc& 98'
Area* in the Sugarcane Belt la the M X of 1947# « • * • A$
OTE Germination *f Seed Collected la the Spring, Susaae**
m mi
Of 1948 «nd 1949 .................. 45
XVXX longetity of Air-Stored Seed Celleeted la 194V And
%mriltim*wS$l HJVOIftv Iif.m JiwtiM5AwkjlOiAIMIto*AfI MIk> SaOo-.fcii.Jll S'S *. • • « • • • • • • • • ■ • • SjBjiflt
xv ill Qernination of Seed or Johnson Grass Gelleotea from -
Si* Area* of Louisiana la 1947, 1948 end 1949* * * * • • %
XXX Scant* of Seaelle lloreta tw the IteteratnAtion of the
Percentage fitlt Mature Caryopeee, • • • • • , • • • • • 5 9
XX M io i Production of 50 Clones of Johnson (tetss In 1949
at Batoa Rouge, M&eiiwm • • • • • • • • • • • « • • • 6a
m&EL%& ws SfltfX AH0 C^p^ll PouU IBS vi<S0l 0 f JGilllflOfcl Ol®80
Areas of Louisian* During 1948 and 1949 • 64
XXII Comparison of Seed Production by Johnson Crass Clones
lAon Self PoUlnated and Vhorn g&em HLlliaaled. • • . • • 66
XXHI Comparison of Actual and Bstimated heights of Seed
ftrcn dona* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • , , , 6 S
XXXV Average Measurement* and Average Might of Seed* from
S AojILmo*n*e*e • • • • • • • • • • • « • • , • • • • • • • • «oicS>O
XXV Germination of Seed fTcm * dene* Selected In 1948 • • • 70
T,
XXVI Population of Johnson Crass seed in Soil Samples from
the Sugarcane Beli in 1947 • • • • * • • • • • • • « • • 73
XXVXX number of Seedling* Geminating from St. Belpfeine
Soil f*m Different Depths in 1947 • • • • • • • • • • • 74
w a n Germination of Johnson Grass Seed in a Sugarcane Held
at St* Dolphins Plantation from 1948 ijhnmgh Sammy,
1950. ........ 79
«i* araniaNi increase in uorm&nei&dn or «ronnson crass
Seed After Ovorwlnterlng in Soil • • • • • • • • * • • • 76
XXX GeimdJwiMlity of Seed Overwintering in Soil in 1947*48 • 76
T
Page
y m Powdlatlen of Johnson taw* Seed la Sogareaae Helds
I^Uov Hewed in 1947* 174$# **d 1949 m 19
mentations la 13 ParieJsee 78
xmi Seed ItajaOattens of Johnson taw* in Hfesied StubKle
Sane tea* IS Plantation* in 9 Papisbe* • « ....... SO
XX3EE$X Oaapiretl** M » n of Seed of Johnson taw* ii
there tam end1'Bean*' W**e Planted in 1947 and in Held*
wicii were Pane* f«ovm m */4»j *ro in wnxan me seen
wteenNn jvjwj^*iaA.sw^sad^n*i*lnpi^rwieln ^w 4* d^ d^ 9i n * * a a w m * *■ at, ■* *» & ps*'
XXHY of the Population of Jefonaon tiw*ii Seed in
Meated* Bfcubhle# Hillm Plowed Fielda whieh had
b8«a Planted to dean end Bean* ewM Sutoffian Pallo*
I■eTaiii*resrwwue^d^* teao^P BStt^^taMaMrPtw^r^** fwwiehe±iiiMiwtetwn&M«^MMmfrt ®. t;* • .w »w *9 .* *m «a» ^* e** *® *a ** *9 »w SB
ffrifdwel l%n*Sntlen of Jofaneon Grass Seed in August
3X 7
BUrtt Cans cl Two tooctionc Illlei V&enaA In 1949
JUPtow S««d 8d of May, 1949 tin J&owcd Under . . . . . 9*
xwn.
Johnson Ones* Seed Popnlatlon in Plant Sane Held*
After Fallow Hewing $ e taitfop Ifctoate* PtHotdng
O^-iai n#inny in 194$* Subjeot to
OnXtlwatlen thereafter * « * * * * ♦ * « • » * * • » * 84
xssm Population of Johnson Grass Seed In the Soil at Two
Leeatlons fallow Plowed In 1947 dnd Followed bp Hand
Bogoeing of Plant Cane in 194S • * » * • , « • S5
s x m ii Siweep of Sugarcane Helde few Johnson Gres* Seed
ledged3Between the Leaf Sheath and Sane Stalk* • • • * 87
X2XIX Gemination of Johnson Grass Seed Beeovered Between
the Leaf Sheaths end Stalk of Sugarcane. • • * • * « * SB
23. Frequency *f location and Total Itaber of Seed Lodged
Between the Sheath* and Stalk of Sugarcane, hp Nod** * SB
4WM3bSL
ABSTRACT
la recent years the moat serious weed pest in the sugar*
cam areas of Louisiana Las been Johnson grass* Sorghum h&lenenffi
a perennial. Until 19-47, relnfestatloa of Johnson
grass in plant cane fialds mn sssucied to fee dm to failure
to destroy rhisanoe during lot© summer fallow plowing* but in
this year evidence was presented that seedlings were an Important
source of infestation. Information leading to a batter under*
standing of germination of the seed* the production of seed*
and the distribution of seed in the soil were raeogaiaed as of
value in the development of improved practices for the control of
this weed pest*
Results of these studies indicated that a period of initial
dormancy was present for several weeks in freshly harvested seed#
After the passage of initial dormancy* seeds with the glumes re-
moved geminated 50-70 per cent better than seeds frora which the
£Lmee wore not removed. A secondary dormancy associated with
the presence of the glumes was indicated*
Seed in secondary dormancy germinated best under conditions
of alternating temperatures of 15°C,-36°C. Of Several materials
used in presoaking treatments* thiourea used in a 2 per cent solution
for 12 hours previous to germination at alternating temperatures both
accelerated and increased the percentage germination of the seed#
vii
Seed ©ollacted from sugarcane areas of Louisiana and planted
In the doll soon after hardest germinated bettor tom the
seed with the glumes not removed which were geminated to the
laboratory, (termination at this time varied with the years in
which the seed were collected# bat the average was twentyw
oigfat per cent.
Johnson grass clones collected in the sugarcane areas
of Louisiana were foimd to vary in their ability to self*
pollinate. The donee In which tor© was little or no self*
pollination were capable of producing seed when grown tender
conditions of open pollination, On to basis of differences
in the ability to produce seed under conditions of self*
pollination to presence of several strain© of Johnson grass in
Louisiana was indicated.
Seed in weighed samples of soil from sugarcane fields were
geminated, and duplicate samples of soil were sifted and tins
recovered seed geminated* The distribution in to soil was
found to be related to the cultural practices in to oultiva*
tica of sugarcane. After late summer fallow plowing to remove
rhizomes the seed were well distributed in to soil to a depth
of 12 inches* Over 1.600.000 per acre were recovered froa in*
fesfced stubble cane fields* The average number in land fallow
plowed was 66.000 per acre, though tore were considerably more
viil
