Growth and reproduction of Cyperus esculentus L. and Cyperus rotundus L.

Abstract

SummaryThe growth of both species (as characterized by their total dry weight, inflorescence dry weight, root and rhizome dry weight and number of shoots per pot) was similar, but they differed in the manner in which the dry weight was partitioned to reproductive structures. Each species partitioned less than 2% of its dry weight into floral formation. However, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) partitioned only 28% of its dry weight to tubers, whereas purple nutsedge (C. rotundus L.) partitioned 50% of its dry weight to fewer and larger tubers. The allocation of dry weight to reproductive structures was related to changes in day‐length. Yellow nutsedge tuber formation increased as day‐length decreased from 14.5 to 12.5 h, while floral formation did not begin until the day‐length dropped below 14 h. Purple nutsedge formed inflorescences earlier and production continued throughout the remainder of the study, but tuber formation was curvilinear and accelerated as the day‐length decreased.