Analysis of Successive Internode Growth in Sweet Sorghum Using Leaf Number as a Plant Age Indicator

Abstract

In sweet sorghum, which is a potential biomass crop, the diameter of internode is an important component of stem yield. However, the thickening of successive internodes is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between the thickening of successive internodes using the age indicated by the leaf number on the main stem (AL) as a time scale. Furthermore, the relationship between the elongating and thickening period of successive internodes along the stem was analyzed. Internodes were collected from AL3, when the 3rd leaf had just expanded above the 2nd leaf sheath, to AL17, and at 9 weeks after heading as final harvest. Although the internode thickening patterns based on AL could not be combined into one or a few patterns, a significant correlation (P<0.001) was found between internode position and AL at which the internodes were thickening, suggesting that a regularity of internode thickening existed among successive internodes. The higher the internode position, the longer the first half of the thickening period (from 15% to 50% of thickening), whereas the period of the second half (50%–85% thickening) was constant irrespective of internode position. These results suggest that the degree of the elongation and thickening of successive internodes can be estimated by using AL.