Effects of temperature and photoperiod onSetaria viridis

Understanding the environmental variables influencing the phenological development of weeds is essential for simulation model development. Temperature and photoperiod are important variables governing the phenological development of weeds. Growth cabinet studies were conducted to characterize the phenological development ofSetaria viridisin response to variations in temperature and photoperiod and to determine the duration of the juvenile phase and the effect of temperature and photoperiod on reproductive development.Setaria viridiswas adapted to a temperature range from 6.5 to 47 C. Phenological development ofS. viridiswas described accurately in terms of thermal days (cumulative day degrees above a base temperature) and biological days (Bd: chronological days at the optimum temperature and photoperiod). Four developmental phases ofS. viridiswere described: (1) a juvenile (photoperiod insensitive) phase of 2.6 Bd; (2) a photoperiod-sensitive inductive phase of 2.2 Bd; (3) a photoperiod-sensitive postinductive phase of 6.0 Bd; and (4) a photoperiod-insensitive inductive phase of 10.9 Bd. Photoperiod sensitivity ofS. viridisdid not differ with stage of development when expressed as a rate. Interpretation of constant sensitivity to photoperiod will simplify simulation of weed phenology in mechanistic models.