Características reproductivas de Commelina erecta L. asociadas con su propagación en sistemas agrícolas

commelina erecta reproduces by seeds and rhizomes. temperature and light requirements for germination, seed dormancy and viability, seedling and tiller dynamics and seed and biomass production were studied. c. erecta shows two types of seeds: ovoid and elongated. after shedding from the parent plant, the percentage of germination of the ovoid seeds was <5% whereas of elongated seeds up to 91% with fluctuating temperatures. seed longevity varied depending on the type of seed: from 12 months onwards no elongated seeds were recovered, while at 24 months 14% of the ovoid seeds was recovered. the onset of seedling emergence in both years of the experiment was early october and emergence lasted -depending on year- till december or march. the period of rhizome sprout spanned from october to february. total seedling emergence was independent of the presence of plants originated from rhizomes, and the opposite also holds. in april an additional flux of seedlings originated from seeds produced during the same growing season was recorded. these reproductive traits of c. erecta could account for the ecological success of this weed in the agricultural systems.