Bud Germination Research Articles

A Short Note on the Bud Sprouts of Tapioca Setts

In a newly planted tapioca field it is commonly observed that the young plants that have just sprung up seldom present a uniform stand for vigour and growth. Also it is seen that the young plants coming out of the top setts of a whole stem have an unhealthy look. It was felt that the differences in the vigour and stand of these young plants arising from the different zones of the entire stem might be due to differences in the potentiality of the buds for producing vigorous shoots. A preliminary trial by planting setts cut from the different zones of a whole stem was conducted to test this point. The variety used was "Valenca". Setts were cut from each of three equally divided parts of a whole stem, and those from different stems but belonging to the same zone were planted in one group. They were planted upright, at equal distances, on ridges, in conformity with the local practice. The sprouting of the buds was noted to commence on the third day after planting and occurred simultaneously in all the buds irrespective of their location above or below ground. But all the buds in a single sett did not grow up into normal branches. Only the top bud or the one below it, as a rule, grew up although shoots from both the buds and even from a third bud in rare cases, were not quite uncommon. The first set of growth measurements was recorded 50 days after planting and a second set 45 days later. Forty plants were measured for each zone and the same plants were measured each time. The data are presented below.

SUGAR-CANE INSECTS IN SOUTH INDIA

Sugarcane is no more free from the attentions of insect-pests than the other major crops cultivated in South India. The setts that are planted are attacked by white ants; very often the joints are eaten up until they are reduced to mere shells, and the germination of buds is affected. The shoots are liable to attack by, at least, three kinds of caterpillar borers, which kill them outright. These borers may also attack the joints of canes during their growth and cause a decrease in the yield of sugar. The leaves may be infested with various kinds of sucking insects: mealy-wings (Aleurodes), mealy-bugs, plant-lice and leaf-hoppers. In some tracts, the Paddy grass- hopper-Hieroglyphus-may invade the crop and reduce the leaves to mid-ribs. Cockchafer grubs may in some places damage the planted crop. Rats, squirrels and jackals are also known to carry their depredations into the cane crop.

Effects of Rest and No-Rest Periods Upon Growth of Solanum

1. A study of the effect of various rest periods of the potato tuber upon the subsequent growth of the plants is here reported. 2. After-ripening processes in the potato occurred whether the tubers were in the ground or in ordinary storage. 3. Potatoes planted immediately after the maturation of a crop required a much longer period for the germination of the buds and the appearance of the plants above ground than did potatoes that had a rest period. 4. The no-rest period tubers, when planted, produced one-stalked plants, indicating the germination and growth of one bud. 5. Plants grown from the no-rest period tubers had a longer growing period than did plants grown from the normal rest period tubers. 6. Most of the seed tubers of the no-rest series plants were recovered. These potatoes had lost very little in weight. When these tubers were planted the second time, germination and growth of several buds ensued. The plants appeared above ground in about the same time period required for the plants of the normal rest period tubers. The growing period of the no-rest period plants in the second planting was nearly equal to that of their first planting.