Dormancy phases in seeds ofVerbascum thapsus L
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Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Reliable Method for Assessing Seed Germination, Dormancy, and Mortality under Field Conditions
Published on: November 6, 2016
Koen A Vanlerberghe1, Jozef A Van Assche1
1Laboratory of Ecology, K.U. Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92, B-3030, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Seeds ofVerbascum thapsus were imbibed on filter papers in Petri dishes and were exposed to a series of temperatures of 4°C→10°C→20°C→10°C→4°C in darkness. After each temperature treatment lasting one month, samples were removed and tested in light and darkness over a range of alternating temperatures. The results showed us that the dormancy state changes gradually according to the imbibition temperatures simulating the seasonal cycle. The ecological implications of the dormancy phases for the regulation of germination in natural conditions are discussed.
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