Determination of some emergence characteristics and germination physiolgy of small-seeded alfalfa dodder (Cuscuta approximata Bab.) with alleopathic effects of some plants on small-seeded alfalfa dodder and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

This study aim to determine the germination physiology and some emergence characteristics of small-seeded alfalfa dodder (Cuscuta approximata Bab.) which causes problems in alfalfa fields and the effects of some allelopathic crops on germination and some growth parameters of small-seeded alfalfa dodder and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The study was carried out between 2010 and 2013. In studies that was conducted in laboratory, the vitality rate, germination physiology and some emergence characteristics of small-seeded alfalfa dodder were determined and some concentrations in water of the allelopathic plants as 4, 7, 10, 13% of barley straw and above ground and underground parts of sainfoin and 1, 3, 5, and 7% of sugar beet leaves, bean straw and cabbage leaves were used to determine of the germination and some growth parameters of target seeds. The effects of different doses of allelopathic plants on the development of dodder and alfalfa, and some soil properties were investigated in the climate chambers. The viability of the dodder was detected 98%. The seeds can be germinated at 30ºC as the highest and 10ºC as the lowest temperatures, and optimum germination temperatures of seeds were found 22ºC. The germination ratio of small-seeded alfalfa dodder seeds increased in parallel with longer holding periods in cold at 21ºC by using stratification method. The highest germination percentage was found as 50.3% for the seeds which were left in cold throughout 133 days. The highest germination ratio was obtained from the level of 150 ppm giberallic acid application dose in dormancy breaking study. Moreover, it was determined that the best germinate and emergence was obtained in 0.5 cm depth while the seeds that close up and so deep to the soil surface could not emergence and had low viability. The effects of water extracts of allelopathic plants on both small-seeded alfalfa dodder and alfalfa 7% and 3% concentration of sugar beet and cabbage was concluded to be effective, respectively. However, it was determined that these plants did not significantly affect on the growth of alfalfa and soil properties in climate chamber studies. As a result of this study, integrated management of small-seeded alfalfa dodder will contribute and intensity ranges of sugar beet and cabbage extracts used in the study can be useful on control of small-seeded alfalfa dodder with field experiments in practice.