Temperature, in addition to moisture, oxygen, and light, plays an important role in seed germination. Early seedling emergence and stand establishment can be promoted by germination of seeds under a wide range of temperatures; therefore, it is desirable for commercial legume cultivars to germinate over a range of temperatures. The objective of this growth chamber experiment was to determine the effects of temperature on seed germination of seven annual warm‐season and 11 annual cool‐season legumes. Greatest germination of warm‐season and cool‐season legumes occurred at 25 and 20°C, respectively. Germination of warm‐season legumes tended to be maximized at 25°C, while cool‐season legume germination was greatest from 10 to 25°C. Cultivars ‘Rio Verde’ lablab [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] and ‘Whitetail Thicket’ soybean [Glycine soja Siebold and Zucc. × Glycine max (L.) Merr.] had greater germination than the other entries at 35°C, indicating their potential for use in warmer climates or in delayed planting dates. Additionally, Whitetail Thicket had the greatest germination of summer legume entries at 10°C. The germination of ‘Dixie’ crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), PI 419238 button medic [Medicago orbicularis (L.) All.], and 600RR and ‘Bulldog 505’ alfalfas (Medicago sativa L.) were less sensitive to temperature than the other cool‐season legume entries. Germination of ‘Devine’ little burr medic (Medicago minima L.), ‘Armadillo’ burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.), and ‘Apache’ arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) were severely reduced at temperatures above 30°C.

No abstract

Winter cover crops may provide different environmental benefits in agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cover crops used as green manure on the soil nitrogen (N) budget and yield of silage maize (Zea mays L.). A field experiment was conducted between 2011 and 2013 at three locations in Vojvodina Province, Serbia. It compared common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus), their mixture grown as cover crops, N fertilisation at two doses (N1 and N2), and an unfertilised fallow as a control. Cover crops were sown in autumn 2011 and 2012 and were ploughed in during May of the year after which silage maize was sown. Results show that the ability of cover crops to provide benefit for a subsequent crop is highly related to weather conditions, mainly precipitation. The two years of the study experienced completely different weather conditions, showing two aspects of how cover crops can affect subsequent crop yield and amount of N left in the soil. In 2012, the N budget was higher in all three cover crops at all locations than N1 and the control because of unfavourable weather conditions for mineralisation of organic matter. However, the cover crops had a negative effect on silage maize yield. In 2013 (an average year), the N budget was significantly higher after cover crops, and was followed by a higher yield of silage maize. Based on the 2-year average, the highest value of apparent N remaining in the soil was recorded in the mixture treatment (288.13 kg N ha–1); treatments with vetch and triticale had approximately equal values (272.17 and 272.71 kg N ha–1). The N fertilisation treatments and the control had significantly lower average values of residual N.

Vavilovia formosa is a relict, endangered species from the highlands of the Caucasus and the Near East. Described in 1812, it has had an uncertain status and was finally recognized as a separate genus of tribe Fabeae (Fabaceae). Our informal international group was established in 2007 to revive the interest in this species as it had been seriously neglected for decades. Here, we provide an overview of the accumulated knowledge on V. formosa and present the results of the most recent multidisciplinary research. Three expeditions were made to two locations in Armenia in 2009, providing the material for anatomical, morphological, chemical and molecular analysis. Unlike previous attempts, ex situ conservation in Yerevan and in vitro propagation, important for potential interspecific hybridization, were successful. Molecular tools were used to clarify the taxonomic position of V. formosa, often considered the closest to the extinct ancestor of the whole tribe. The analysis of four informative regions of plastid and nuclear DNA showed that V. formosa belongs to the same clade as Lathyrus and Pisum, with a distinct status. Preservation and maintenance of V. formosa remains the only basis for further development of all other scientific aspects, especially breeding and uses in agronomy. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 172, 524–531.