Some Factors Affecting Germination and Seedling Growth of Scotch Thistle

Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium L.) is a native of Eurasia. Scotch thistle is found in the grasslands of central Nebraska, with heaviest infestations in Gosper, Dawson, and Valley Counties and limited occurrence in 18 additional counties. The Nebraska Unicameral declared it a noxious weed in 1965. This study measures the effects of some environmental factors on scotch thistle germination and seedling growth, and clarifies some of the interactions of these with inherent characteristics of the achene. The effect of achene coat, stratification, light, temperature, growth regulators, pH, depth of planting, salinity, germination inhibitors, and moisture stress were studied