Investigating the Persistence of Corn Buttercup (Ranunculus arvensis L.) Seeds in Seed Bank: The New Challenge of Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Fields in Golestan Province

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Marjaneh Torrik

Asieh Siahmarguee

Farshid Ghaderifar

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

10.22067/jpp.2026.96299.1262

Abstract

Introduction
Ranunculus arvensis (corn buttercup) is a key weed in cereal and canola fields, and its management requires a deep understanding of its seed biology and ecology. Seed bank dynamics, particularly the breaking of primary dormancy and the induction of secondary dormancy under the influence of environmental factors, may play a decisive role in the persistence of this weed's population. The objective of this research was to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the germination ecology and seed bank dynamics of corn buttercup by evaluating the effects of after-ripening, soil burial depth, light conditions, and temperature on seed fate (germination, mortality, and survival) and its dormancy cycle.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted through both laboratory and field experiments. Seeds of corn buttercup were collected from canola fields in Bandar-e Gaz county in June 2023. In the first part, the effect of after-ripening was assessed by conducting germination tests on fresh, one-year-old, and two-year-old seeds at temperatures ranging from 5 to 35°C. In the second part, to investigate seed persistence in the soil, mesh bags containing a mixture of seed and soil were buried at depths of 10 and 20 cm in the field for one year, with monthly sampling. Concurrently, a group of seeds was stored under laboratory conditions. Viable recovered seeds from the soil and the stored seeds were subjected to germination tests at temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C under both light (photoperiod) and complete darkness conditions. The viability of non-germinated seeds was assessed using pressure test. the statistical analyses were performed using SAS software, and means were compared using the LSD test at the 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion
The results of this study indicate that corn buttercup seeds exhibit non-deep physiological primary dormancy of type II. This means that fresh seeds germinate at high temperatures, but with the passage of time and the breaking of dormancy, their germination temperature range expands to include lower temperatures. One year of after-ripening under laboratory conditions effectively broke primary dormancy, leading to a maximum germination rate of up to 98.67%. However, after two years, seed viability showed a slight decrease. Seeds buried in soil displayed a distinct seasonal dynamic pattern. A germination window was observed from 14 to 162 days after burial, peaking at 62 days at optimal temperatures of 10 to 20°C. A key finding of this research was the observation of the induction of deep secondary dormancy in seeds from day 196 onwards. At this stage, the germination of buried seeds, at both depths and under both light conditions, ceased completely. This occurred while the percentage of viable seeds remained high (up to 95%). This survival strategy was not observed in seeds stored under laboratory conditions, which maintained their high germination capacity (up to 87%) throughout the entire experimental period. This fundamental difference proves that environmental soil signals, such as temperature and moisture fluctuations, are the main factors inducing secondary dormancy in this species. Furthermore, the results showed that burial depth also influences seed dynamics. Although the overall pattern of germination and seed survival was similar at both 10 and 20 cm depths, the depletion of the seed bank occurred faster at 10 cm, which is attributed to less favorable environmental conditions and a higher rate of seed mortality at this depth.
Conclusion
Corn buttercup follow a complex and efficient annual dormancy cycle. Their non-deep physiological primary dormancy is broken by after-ripening and exposure to light in autumn and winter, leading to a main wave of germination in spring at cool temperatures (5-15°C). Subsequently, soil environmental conditions in summer (such as high temperatures) induce deep secondary dormancy in the remaining seeds. This mechanism is a crucial survival strategy that prevents germination during unfavorable seasons and ensures the stability of the soil seed bank for future years. Moreover, the sensitivity of buttercup seeds to light suggests that being buried in deeper soil layers and a lack of light exposure prevents their germination. This highlights the effectiveness of no-tillage methods as a management tool for this weed. Based on the survival of the seeds over a one-year period, the seed bank of this species is classified as persistent.

Keywords

After-ripening

Seasonal cycle of seed dormancy

Secondary dormancy

Seed bank dynamics

Seed dormancy

Subjects

• Weed

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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