Influence of basal and cauline leaves on corm production inLiatris spicatacv. Callilepis

Abstract

SummaryThe effect of the removal of different amounts of stem on different plant parts was evaluated. Early stem removal increased the number and weight of daughter corms harvested per plant compared with the corms produced by middle and late stem removal and the control (untreated). Middle and early stem removal increased the total weight of all corms harvested per plant compared with the other treatments. Early stem removal increased the basal leaf area per plant compared with late stem removal and the control. All the treatments (pinching of the stem) increased the number of daughter corms per plant weighing more than 11 g and decreased the number of those weighing less than 3 g; corms of an intermediate weight were unaffected. The total chlorophyll content of basal leaves was greater than that of the cauline leaves during corm enlargement. The study of the distribution gradient of assimilates showed that corm enlargement basically occurred at the expense of assimilates produced by the basal leaves, wh...