Figure 5 in Pericarp-mediated chemical dormancy controls the fruit germination of the invasive hoary cress (Lepidium drobo), but not of hairy whitetop (Lepidium oppelionum)

Figure 5. The effects of pericarp scarification, sterilization, washing, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment on the germination of Lepidium drobo and Lepidium oppelionum freshly harvested mature fruits. (A) Germination of fresh isolated seeds, untreated fresh fruits (seeds enclosed within untreated pericarp), scarified fresh fruits (seeds enclosed within scarified pericarp, that is, mechanical constraint of pericarp removed by scarification with razor blade), surface-sterilized fresh fruits (seeds enclosed within surface-sterilized pericarp to eliminate microbial activity), and washed fresh fruits (fruits washed for 24 h to remove water-soluble chemical inhibitors) of L. drobo ond L. oppelionum. (B) Germination of fresh and afterripened indehiscent fruits and isolated seeds without (control) and with addition of 5 μM ABA. Mean values ± SE (N = 3 × 25) of accessions KM 1296 and KM 1754 (2014 to 2015 harvest) at optimal germination assay conditions (12/12-h light regime at 25/15 C day/night for 28 d) are presented. Different letters (a, b) designate significantly different mean values as determined by Tukey's pairwise multiple-comparison test (P <0.05).