Recent reports show Conyza canadensis and C. bonariensis as important weeds of the agricultural system. The great ecological adaptability of these species to conservationist soil management systems and the increased selection pressure caused by intense herbicide use may contribute to selection of resistant biotypes. Understanding the factors factors that control seed germination can supply the basis for the development of management strategies for these species. Water availability has a direct effect on seed germination capacity. Thus, this work aimed to study the effect of water restriction on the substrate and its effect on Conyza Canadensis and C. bonariensis seed germination. Three assays were carried out at the Seed Laboratory of the Universidade do Estado do Mato Grosso in Alta Floresta-MT Academic Campus. The first experiment using gearboxes studied the germinative behavior of the species, using the factorial scheme 2 x 6, with two species and six water potentials (0.0; -0.20; -0.40; -0.60; -0.80 and -1.00 MPa) being provided by diluting polyethylene glycol in water. In the second experiment, also in a factorial scheme 2 x 6, the species were submitted to lower water potentials (0.0; -0.05; -0.10; -0.15; -0.20 and -0.30 MPa) in polyethylene glycol solutions. In the third experiment, the seeds were studied in a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 5, in which the two species germinated in two substrates (forest soil and sand),with sufficient water being supplied to reach five water retention capacities (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%). The results of the experiments showed that total germination and germination speed of Conyza seeds were reduced by decreased water restriction in the substrate, starting from -0.20 MPa. Excess water in the substrate reduced total emergence and emergence speed of Conyza seeds.
weed; horseweed; fleabane; PEG 6000; water potential
