The Soil Seed Bank, Germination and Early Growth Working Group (WG) is a joint group of EWRS members. The main objective of this WG is to promote collaboration between participants to achieve common goals within the scope of initial growth stages of weeds, either annual or perennial, from seed dispersal to early growth stages of the seedlings. This includes addressing the challenges associated with controlling weeds during these critical stages of their development. The primary collaborative activities are joint experiments that could produce publications in scientific journals, preferably in Weed Research. Currently, a joint experiment, initiated in 2023, is underway to estimate the base temperature and base water potential of 32 populations of Echinochloa crus-galli collected from maize fields throughout Europe and the Middle East. This research was designed upon the knowledge generated by the WG’s previous common experiment on E. crus-galli (2015-2017), that were published in three articles in 2022. Additionally, the WG organizes workshops, the last one held in Perugia in June 2023, to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and foster collaboration, present and discuss research finding with other fellow members. In recent years, the WG has also organized various courses for its participants. In this context, an R course for modelling seed germination and seedling emergence was organized in Perugia in 2023, with Andrea Onofri serving as lecturer. In 2024, a course on weed seedling identification was organized in Lleida, with Aritz Royo-Esnal and Joel Torra as lecturers. These courses aim to enhance the participants' skills and knowledge, contributing to the group's overall research and weed management efforts. The group is open to collaborations and new ideas are welcome.
