Parental Stress and Prechilling Effects on Pennsylvania Smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) Achenes

Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum L.) achenes were harvested from plants growing either free from competition or in competition with corn (Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer 3780′) plants. Seeds were dormant when harvested. After 15 weeks of prechilling, 4 and 35% of the seeds germinated from plants with and without corn competition, respectively; after 30 weeks of prechilling, more than 92% of all seeds germinated. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the carpel walls of achenes from plants with corn competition were porous with many channels. Carpel walls of achenes from plants without corn competition were without pores and channels. Transmission electron microscopy showed more lipid bodies in the embryo epidermal cells of seeds from plants with corn competition. Cell walls of embryos from non-prechilled seeds from plants with corn competition contained lipoidosomes that traversed cell walls. Lipoidosomes did not occur in cells of prechilled seeds.