ADVANCEMENTS IN LIFE SCIENCES, sa.3, ss.565-571, 2024 (ESCI)
Background: There are many weed species that affect yield and quality in date palm orchards. . Cutandia memphitica (Spreng.) Benth. is one of the weeds that is common in date palm orchards in Iraq. However, there is not enough information about C. memphitica in the literature. In order to provide information about the effect of key environmental factors (temperature, light, pH, and salt) on the seed biology of this weed species, this study was conducted. Methods: Within 2020, seeds were collected from agricultural regions in southern Iraq, and trials were done at Erciyes University Faculty of Agriculture labs in Kayseri Turkiye. All experiments were carried out with 30 seeds in the sterile 90 mm (90x15) petri dishes containing two layers of sterile filter paper. Results: The results of this investigation revealed that the seeds of this species germinated by 72.49% in three days when incubated at 25 degrees C, and by 96.66% in 14 days when incubated at 15 degrees C. The results also indicated that even during the longest incubation time examined, which was 28 days, the seeds of this species never germinated at 30 degrees or above. They can germinate during this period if kept at 5 degrees C. The study also revealed that 90% of the seeds of this species germinated in complete darkness, whereas only 11.66% germinated in light. However, light has a significant impact on studied growth parameters (plant height and seedling fresh and dry weight). The results also demonstrate that the pH levels examined, which varied from 4 to 10, had no effect on the seed germination and growth parameters of seedling. Conclusion: The results showed that the seeds of this species germinated at the highest salinity levels (250 mM NaCl) by 10.83%. Meanwhile, the best germination was recorded at 25 mM salinity level of 89.16%, but without significant differences with salinity level at 50 mM and control. Also, the growth indicators were reduced significantly at the salinity level of 250 mM compared to the control.