Erect Plant Research Articles

Root Characteristics of Black Beans. I. Relationship of Root Size to Lodging and Seed Yield1

The relationship of root size to seed yield and lodging of two black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, ‘Black Turtle Soup’ (BTS) and ‘Strain 39,’ was compared with that of four black‐seeded lines (70001, 70002, 70003, and 70004) under both field and greenhouse conditions at different growth stages. Root weight was significantly higher for the four lines than for the two cultivars in the field, but not in the greenhouse. Shoot:root ratios were significantly lower for all the lines than for BTS in both environments and for Strain 39 under field conditions.Combined field data for 2 years showed all four lines had significantly higher seed and biological yields than the two cultivars, although no differences were measured for harvest index. In both years the four lines lodged less than the two cultivars.Uprooting resistance of all lines was significantly higher than for BTS and Strain 39. None of the parameters measured showed a stage ✕ genotype interaction, except for shoot:root ratio in the greenhouse.Our results suggest that a larger root biomas may be an important component of lodging resistance in black beans. Erect plant types would result in decreased yield losses by direct harvesters.

Root Characteristics of Black Beans. II. Morphological Differences Among Genotypes1

Total root biomass of two black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, ‘Black Turtle Soup’ (BTS) and ‘Strain 39,’ and four black‐seeded lines (70001, 70002, 70003, and 70004) was partitioned into adventitious, basal, and taproot components at several growth stages under both greenhouse and field conditions. Basal root weights were significantly higher for the four lines in the field and for 70001 and 70002 in the greenhouse than for BTS and Strain 39. Genotypes did not differ for adventitious root weights in both environments. Taproot weights were higher for all the lines compared with BTS; and for 70001, 70003, and 70004 compared with Strain 39 in the field. Genotypes did not differ for taproot weights in the greenhouse.Stem, hypocotyl, and taproot diameters were significantly higher for all the lines than for the two cultivars in the field. Hypocotyl and stem diameters of all lines were higher than for the two cultivars, except for stem diameter of 70002 when compared with BTS in the greenhouse. Taproot diameters of 70001, 70002, and 70004 were significantly higher than for Strain 39 under greenhouse conditions. Basal root diameters (sum of individual basal root diameters) of the four lines were significantly higher than for BTS or Strain 39 in both experiments. Genotypes did^ot differ in the number of basal roots under field conditions.In the field, most root parameters increased up to the seed initiation stage, followed by a significant decrease or no further increase at the pod fill stage. Significant stage ✕ genotype interactions occurred for basal root diameter and hypocotyl diameter in the field and for taproot weight, stem, hypocotyl, and basal root diameters in the greenhouse. The erect plant type of the lines may be attributable to larger basal roots.

Seed and seedling morphology of two species ofEuphorbia (Euphorbiaceae)

Morphology of the seeds and seedlings ofEuphorbia hirta andE. thymifolia are described. In both the species, the seeds are endospermous, exotegmic, more or less oblong and obtusely tetragonal. The testa is only two-layer thick, collapsing when dry; the tegmen is made up of a single layer of macrosclereids with occluded lumen. The early developmental pattern of the seedlings in both the species is the same. The first internode is condensed and the first pair of leaves develop in a decussate fashion to the cotyledonary leaves. Early in the development of young seedlings, 4–5 extra-axillary branches originate at the first leafy node. These branches inE. thymifolia lead to the rosette form of mature plant whereas inE. hirta these branches are eliminated and an erect plant is the result and branches from the main axis develop only subsequently. The nature of the seedlings are correlated with the ecology of the plants.

Pertica, a New Genus of Devonian Plants from Northern Maine

A new genus of Devonian age fossil plants is described from the Trout Valley Formation of northern Maine. Abundant compression material permits a rather complete understanding of its morphology. Pertica quadrifaria Kasper and Andrews, gen. et sp. nov., was an erect plant, perhaps a meter tall, with a pseudomonopodial main axis and dichotomous side branches. The side branches were arranged in a clockwise spiral (from base to apex) and were tetrastichous. They dichotomized numerous times, with the intervals between dichotomies decreasing distally. The ultimate branchlets bore numerous sporangia in dense clusters. Other side branches were completely sterile. Pertica quadrifaria is classified in the Subdivision Trimerophytina of Banks. Its evolutionary significance rests in the fact that it is a link in the chain of increasingly complex early vascular land plants.

PERTICA, A NEW GENUS OF DEVONIAN PLANTS FROM NORTHERN MAINE

A new genus of Devonian age fossil plants is described from the Trout Valley Formation of northern Maine. Abundant compression material permits a rather complete understanding of its morphology. Pertica quadrifaria Kasper and Andrews, gen. et sp. nov., was an erect plant, perhaps a meter tall, with a pseudomonopodial main axis and dichotomous side branches. The side branches were arranged in a clockwise spiral (from base to apex) and were tetrastichous. They dichotomized numerous times, with the intervals between dichotomies decreasing distally. The ultimate branchlets bore numerous sporangia in dense clusters. Other side branches were completely sterile. Pertica quadrifaria is classified in the Subdivision Trimerophytina of Banks. Its evolutionary significance rests in the fact that it is a link in the chain of increasingly complex early vascular land plants.

Correlation between form, structure and habit in some lianas

1. The present paper deals with the gross anatomy and certain mechanical properties of the stem of sixteen lianas with anomalous secondary growth in comparison to that of an erect plant.

The morphological and ecological studies on the cultivated and wild Mitsuba Cryptotaenia japonica HASSK

Cryptotaenia japonica HASSK., hence forward referred to by its generic name alone, is a member of Umbelliferae. It is a herbaceous perennial plant indigenous to the Far East Asian temperate zone and is commonly cultivated throughout Japan as a vegetable crop. It grows widely in the mountainous regions of the country in wild state and is called as“Mitsuba”in Japanese.Thirty-six wild-grown stocks and five cultivars of Cryptotaenia, collected from various parts of Japan, were cultivated in Sakai, Osaka prefecture. The morphological and ecological studies were made during 1955-1958 on varietal differences among the cultivars and characteristic differences between the wild strains and the cultivars of Cryptotaenia, . The geographical differentiations among the wild strains were also investigated.1. In comparison with the wild strains, all of the cultivars had generally more valuable morphological characters as a vegetable crop and uniformity among the cultivars. Green color of the leaf and stem, erect plant type and large size of the plant are very distinctive features. On the contrary, the wild strains showed a wide range of variations in characters and the plants generally tended to be more prostrate in plant type, but there was no apparent relation between the characters and geographical conditions of the native habitat.2. In regard to the bolting and flowering time, all of the cultivars and the wild strains collected from warm climate zones showed the tendency of earlier bolting and flowering than those from cooler climate zones. It was found that the time of bolting and flowering of the wild strains is related to the latitude and temperature of the areas where they were collected.3. Varietal differences of premature bolting of the cultivars distributed in both Kanto and Kansai districts were investigated by means of four different sowing trials at different time. It was found that the cultivars of Cryptotaenia can be divided into two main ecological types, namely the Kansai Ao-mitsuba of early-bolting and the Kanto Shirokuki-mitsuba of the late-bolting. Both types seem to have been selected for the special methods of cultivation in these two districts.4. A similar geographical trend as seen in the bolting and flowering time was found in the seed dormancy of wild Cryptotaenia collected from cool climate zones when they were sowed immediately after harvest, while strains having none or shallow dormancy were found in both of the cultivars and the wild strains collected from warm climate zones.Effective treatments for breaking the seed dormancy are also investigated, and a chilling pretreatmemt at 5°C for 10-60 days was effective, but the optimum period of chilling varies with strains.

Studies on the geographical variatiou of some characters of Renge, Astragalus sileicus L.,

The place of origin of Renge, Astragalus sinicus L., was probably in China. It is believed that Renge was introduced into Japan from China as early as the 5 th century A. D., though it is uncertain. This exotic plant spread throughout Japan, because the natural environmental conditions were suitable for its growing. Nowadays, Renge grows all over Japan except Hokkaido-area as valuable manure and forage crops or wild plants. The authors collected numerous strains of Renge growing under various environments and studied the geographical differentiation among them. The results obtained are summarized as follows : ( 1 ) In both cultivated and wild strains, strains collected from cooler climates tended to flower somewhat earlier, to be shorter in plant height, smaller in leaf size and more prostrate in plant type than those from warmer climates. The degree of these variations with latitude is greater in wild strains tban in cultivated ones. For example, in regard to the flowering date, an increase of 1° in latitude resulted in a promotion of 1.5-1.9 days in wild strains as compared with 0.2∼0.8 days in cultivated strains. ( 2 ) Not only in the mean value mentioned above, but also in the within-plot-standard deviation, an apparent geographical trend was found in some characters, that is, a continuous gradual decrease in standard deviation was recognized according as the latitude increases. It was fcund in wild strains that correlation coefficients between the latitude and the within-plot-standard deviation were -O. 508** in plant type index, -0.373** in plant height, -O.358** in leaf length and -0.403** in leaflet area index (*'* indicating the significance at the 1% level. ). Contrary to these results, in flowering date and number of stems a positive correlation was calculated, but the values themselves were small and not significant. These results rhay be useful in considering how Ito introduce Renge plants into our country. ( 3 ) Cultivated strains have generally more valuable characteristics as fcrage crops than wild strains as expected. Namely those of more erect plant type, taller plant height, Iarger leaf size, and so on are recommended.