Effect of temperature and drought stress on seed germination of three forage species

The seeds of Heteropogon contortus, Dactylis glomerata and Festuca arundinacea were used for seed germination tests under temperature and drought stress. Seed germination rate, germination vigor and germination index of 3 forage species treated with 3 different temperatures and 4 different drought stress levels were measured. The results showed the seeds of H. contortus could germinate under the room temperature in natural environment. The seedling emergence of H. contortus was 2 to 3 days earlier than D. glomerata and F. arundinacea under different temperatures and PEG. The germination index of H. contortus was higher than D. glomerata and F. arundinacea. Low drought stress was helpful for the seed germination of H. contortus, but unfavorable when drought stress was over -3 Pa. The adaptability of H. contortus to dry and hot valley mainly depended on the adaptability after germination.