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Lepidium apetalum (Brassicaceae) is an annual or biennial weed widely distributed in Asia and Europe. The outer surface of L. apetalum seeds produces a large amount of mucilage. The primary aim of this study was to explore the dormancy characteristics and to determine how mucilage develops. The role of mucilage in water absorption/dehydration, the effects of after-ripening, gibberellin acid (GA3), cold stratification and seed coat scarification on germination, the role of mucilage in germination and seedling growth during drought, and the progress of mucilage production during seed development were investigated. The results indicate that the best temperature regime for germination was 10/20 °C. After-ripening, GA3 and seed coat scarification helped to break dormancy. Light promoted germination. Seedling growth of mucilaged seeds were significantly higher than those of demucilaged seeds at −0.606 and −1.027 MPa. Anatomical changes during seed development showed that mucilage was derived from the outer layer of the outer integument cells. Our findings suggest that seeds of L. apetalum exhibited non-deep physiological dormancy. The dormancy characteristics along with mucilage production give seeds of L. apetalum a competitive advantage over other species, and thus contribute to its potential as a weed. Effective control of this weed can be achieved by deep tillage.

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