Explosive seed dispersal, Euphorbia geniculata, weed biology
Explosive seed dispersal, viability and germination in Euphorbia geniculata have been determined. Plant disperse seeds explosively upto 6 m but dispersal was affected by temperature, humidity and radiation load. Seed viability was not affected by dry storage (X±SE=93.6±0.67) and low temperature (X±SE= 9I.6±0.7). Seeds lacked primary dormancy, however, low temperature enforced secondary dormancy. Seed dispersal began at 1100 h and finished at 1500 h with peak at 1300 h (52.3%) during September. During November when temperature drops, dispersal began at 1100 h and finished at 1400 h with peak at 1200 h (40.7%). However, there was no significant correlation between temperature and seed dispersal. The distance peak of explosively dispersed seeds was observed between 100-200 cm (26%) and tail of distribution reached upto 677 (X±SD=243.6±148.8) cm and dispersal distance was not dependent on seed weight.