Effects of burial depth on weedy rice seed longevity for sustainable weed management / Sharifah Nurnabilah Syed Bakar

Sharifah Nurnabilah , Syed Bakar (2024) Effects of burial depth on weedy rice seed longevity for sustainable weed management / Sharifah Nurnabilah Syed Bakar. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

Weedy rice (Oryza spp.) poses a significant risk to rice production globally. Weedy rice has longer seed viability and dormancy compared to cultivated rice, allowing it to persist in the soil seedbank. However, the impact of burial depth and duration of burial on the viability of weedy rice seeds in Malaysia remains poorly understood. The purpose of this research was to examine the survival mechanisms of weedy rice seeds within the seedbank when subjected to various burial depth (5 cm and 25 cm), different durations of burial, and diverse weedy rice samples. Weedy rice seeds were collected from various locations in Peninsular Malaysia and their initial germination was assessed. These seeds were then buried at various depths and time intervals. The results showed that burial significantly reduced weedy rice seed germination, and seeds left on the soil surface had even lower viability. The germination rate declined progressively over time in the burial treatment. Interestingly, some weedy rice biotypes demonstrated the ability to survive in the seedbank for extended periods, up to five months, allowing them to persist and re-emerge in subsequent seasons. In contrast, non-dormant weedy rice seeds kept at room temperature exhibited consistent and high germination rates. The correlation analysis shows different patterns of seed longevity depending on the burial duration. These findings emphasize the importance of burial depth and time in shaping weedy rice seedbank dynamics, with potential implications for weed management strategies in rice agro-ecosystems.

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