Summary
1. The pathogenic potential of test soils towards germinating seeds ofTrifolium repens andPhleum pratense showed marked variation with time, but no apparent relation to seasonal changes or to the condition of the soil.
2. The two species differed in their response to pathogenic factors and the ratioT. repens :P. pratense in the seedlings which emerged showed marked variation.
3. Both pre- and post-emergence mortality ofT. repens occurred, whileP. pratense responded to low soil temperature mainly by failure to germinate, through death, and more often enforced dormancy of the “seed”.
4. Chilling the seed in wet soil before germination increased mortality considerably.P. pratense stands were reduced at temperatures below 10°C. Losses ofT. repens were small above 5°C, but at 0°C and below losses were heavier than ofP. pratense.
5. In sterilised soil, establishment was consistently better than in corresponding unsterilised soils. Fungicide treatment of the seed in unsterilised soil resulted in improvement of stands in most cases, but less than soil sterilisation.
6. The improvement in emergence due to soil sterilisation or fungicide treatment was much the same after all pre-chilling treatments.
7. The relationship of germination behaviour and liability to pathogenic attack under different temperature conditions is discussed in the light of experience in the field.
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Mence, M.J. The differential mortality ofTrifolium repens andPhleum pratense seedlings in relation to temperature. Plant Soil 21, 113–124 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01373878
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01373878