• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 1988

Several experiments were conducted to investigate the achene viability and growth characteristics of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. No dormancy and no after-ripening requirement were found for E. prostrata achenes. When achenes were stored at room temperature, germination did not decrease with up to 5 months storage. Large differences in loss of viability of E. prostrata achenes occurred when different dehydration methods were used. Immediate dehydration resulted in high viability, but slow dehydration resulted in severe loss of viability. Achene viability at shallow burial depths (5 and 10 cm deep) was lower under upland soil conditions than under lowland soil conditions. Seedling growth was greatly reduced when flooding to a depth of 10 cm occurred at or before the 4-leaf stage. Flooding after the 4-leaf stage stimulated stem elongation. Branching started from the second week and usually terminated at the tenth week. Leaf size was determined by the branch which are related to the assimilate supply. Flowering of E. prostrata started during the fifth week after emergence, and mature achenes were produced from the sixth week. Ten to 14 days were needed for the achenes to mature. About 14,000 achenes were produced on each plant. Achene production per week increased from the sixth week to the tenth week and thereafter it declined. The average number of achenes per inflorescence decreased with delay in flowering.