Yellow Nutsedge (<i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.) as an Agricultural Crop in Brazil: Tuber Dormancy Breaking

Abstract

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) is cultivated worldwide due to its agricultural and biotechnological potential. In Brazil, it is considered a weed, and we lack studies on its cultivation. Overcoming tuber dormancy is crucial for propagation. This study aimed to assess various dormancy-breaking methods’ effects on tubers and initial plant development. The treatments included gibberellic acid immersion, ethylene exposure, purple nutsedge extract immersion, temperature conditioning, scarification, and bud cutting, along with a control. Scarification resulted in the shortest emergence time (0.904 days) and fastest emergence speed (5.092 tubers/day). Plant development was minimally affected by the treatments, with scarification and gibberellic acid (100 mg L−1) resulting in taller plants (1.19–1.23 times higher than the control). The conditioning at 4 °C and 70 °C proved to be less effective in breaking dormancy. Purple nutsedge extract immersion and bud cutting hindered plant growth. Scarification emerged as the most effective dormancy-breaking method. This study provides insights into the cultivation of yellow nutsedge in Brazil, highlighting the effectiveness of scarification in improving tuber germination and the early growth stages of plants.

Keywords

• agricultural production
• plant biotechnology
• scarification
• vegetables
• weed