Foliage Growth Research Articles

The effects of rainfall and soil type on the population dynamics of cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and spring oats (Avena sativa)

SUMMARYIn experiments applying water regimes ranging from one eighth to twice the recorded average rainfall to six soils (two light sands and four silty clay loams) consistent positive correlations were found between rainfall and (a) the growth of foliage and roots of spring barley and spring oats, (b) the number of larvae which invaded the root system, (c) the number of immature females in July, and (d) the incidence of the fungus Verticillium chlamydosporium, an egg parasite of H. avenae. Final cyst numbers were sometimes lower than the number of immature females, probably because the latter were destroyed by the ‘Entomophthora‐like’ fungus (Kerry & Crump 1977). Final populations of cysts and eggs were not always proportional to the number of larvae in root systems (even when the proportion of males was constant) but appeared more likely to be so in light sandy soils.

Predicting Leaf Emergence of ‘Montmorency’ Sour Cherry from Degree-day Accumulations1

Abstract A model which predicts terminal and spur leaf emergence of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L. cv. Montmorency) grown near East Lansing, Michigan was developed from biological and temperature observations made in orchards near Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Leaf number of spur and terminal shoots was more highly correlated with degree-day accumulation at a base of 4°C starting April 19, than with time. Leaf number on individual shoots was linear with respect to degree-day accumulation; however, not all growth on an individual tree was synchronous, and the plot of average leaf number vs. time was slightly curvilinear. Terminal buds set about 350 and 850 degree-days after first leaf emergence for spur and terminal shoots, respectively, regardless of location. Leaf size increased linearly with degree-day accumulation until full leaf expansion. At maturity terminal leaves were about 50% larger in area than spur leaves. Foliage growth was greatest during stage I and early stage II of fruit growth, and may compete with the fruit for assimilates needed for growth.

14C distribution and utilization in blue grama as affected by temperature, water potential and defoliation regimes.

Water stress and temperature effects on growth, translocation and reallocation of 14C assimilated by blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.) were studied for sods extracted from shortgrass prairie. The sods were kept at either 24°/16° or 34°/16°C (day/nigh) temperatures and were labeled at two phenological stages. Three soil water potential (Ψ s) regimes of approximately 0 to -1, 0 to -15, and 0 to -30 bars were maintained by wetting and drying cycles. Reproductive plants retained more 14C in aboveground organs, used more assimilated 14C for respiration, and allocated a higher proportion of photosynthate to the labile fraction than did plants labeled at a vegetative stage. Low temperature and a Ψ s of 0 to -30 bars resulted in greater 14C translocation to belowground organs, but a larger proportion of the 14C went into structural components. Sods stressed to-30 bars and maintained at higher temperatures had higher respiration losses of 14C. No significant differences in allocation and respiration uses of 14C were found among sods grown at field capacity and at 0 to-15 bars Ψ s.During regrowth of clipped sods, more than 60% of the labile 14C in belowground organs was respired within four weeks. Higher respiration losses of labile 14C were found in severely water stressed sods that regrew under the higher temperature regime. Use of labile 14C for regrowth of new foliage was greatest for sods kept under conditions of high temperatures and optimum to moderate Ψ s. Height growth and biomass increas of new foliage were significantly less for sods stresses to -30 bars. No significant differences in reallocation or respiration losses of 14C, growth, and biomass increases were observed for sods maintained at field capacity and 0 to -15 bars. These results suggested that physiological processes in blue grama were affected and could not recover fully when plants were subjected to severe water stress. However, upon relief of stress, those sods maintained at a moderate soil water stress level to 0 to -15 bars were capable of rapid recovery. Significance of these findings is discussed in the context of evolutionary success of blue grama in a semi-arid environment.

A case study on the effect of soil compaction on potato growth in a loamy sand soil. 2. Potato plant responses.

Potato plant reactions to soil compaction were studied in the field in the dry yr 1976. Irrigation was applied in some of the treatments. Strong compaction of topsoil resulted in shallow rooting, low water availability and relatively slow foliage and root growth in the first 60 days after emergence, compared with the non-compacted treatment. Compaction of the subsoil (formation of a plough pan) initially resulted in relatively rapid foliage growth, which was partly due to a high capillary flux from the water table; however the rate slowed down as vertical root elongation became inhibited by the plough pan. Topsoil compaction resulted in depressed tuber yields and severe induction of second growth compared to the non-compacted or irrigated treatments. At maturity, differences in total yields among treatments were small except for the treatment with a plough pan where the yield was low; soil compaction decreased marketable tuber yield. The quantity of available water for the crop, defined as the measured water uptake from the rooted zone and a calculated capillary flux to the rooting front was compared with potential evapotranspiration and significant differences thus obtained among treatments were well reflected by observed differences in vegetative growth. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Estimation of White Mold Disease Reduction of Yield and Yield Components of Dry Edible Beans

Surveys conducted from 1970 through 1973 indicated that dry edible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants in western Nebraska irrigated fields averaged 30% infection, and bean fields averaged 13% loss due to the white mold fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Plants severely infected by S. sclerotiorum sustained a mean decrease in seed yield of 44% when compared to healthy plants. Total seed yield, and the components of yield, including number of seeds per plant, 100‐seed weight, and number of pods per plant, were significantly reduced by S. sclerotiorum. Reduced number of seeds per plant was the major component of yield loss followed by reduced weight of 100 seeds. Field conditions favoring vigorous foliage growth and high yields of Great Northern and Pinto bean types also favored white mold development. Thus, regression analysis indicated that low to moderate levels of infection by S. sclerotiorum were often associated with higher yields, but with a high percentage of infection yield reduction occurred. A second degree polynomial gave the best correlation of the data (r = 0.56). The assessment of disease losses due to S. sclerotiorum is discussed.

Studies on the Physical Characteristics of Rice Seedling

To obtain good seedling which was capable of producing high yield and was suitable for mechanical transplanting, some experiments on raising of seedling were conducted under various nursery conditions (i.e. (1) seeding rate 90-720g/m2, (2) upland or lowland nursery bed and (3) nursery period 19-48 days).1. Physical characteristics were influenced apparently by seeding rate. Comparing with the seedling grown under dense seeding rate, the one grown under sparse seeding rate was (1) thicker in basal section (increase in section modulus), (2) more resistant to buckling and bending (increase in buckling index), but (3) more flexible in the structure (decrease in buckling stress) of basal part. Seedling grown under sparse seeding rate also possesses well-developed basal part with short foliage, therefore (4) more resistant against to buckling and bending of whole seedling (decrease in buckling index and deflection rate).2. Comparing with the seedling grown in lowland nursery, the one grown in upland nursery was (1) thinner in basal section (increase in section modulus), (2) more rigid in the structure of basal part (increase in buckling stress) and (3) more resistant to buckling and bending, which were due to the well-developed basal part with erect and short foliage (decrease in buckling index and deflection ratio).3. Physical characteristics of seedling in relation to nursery period were as follows: -With growing, the basal part of seedling became (1) thicker in section (increase in section modulus), (2) more rigid in the structure (increase in buckling stress), therefore more resistant to buckling and bending (decrease in buckling moment). (3) In early seedling stage, the resistance against to buckling and bending of whole seedling (buckling index and deflection ratio) was not so high because of the undeveloped basal part. It increased once because of the developed basal part in comparison with foliage growth, but decreased again because of foliage elongation when nursery period was too long.4. The above mentioned results on physical characteristics were similar to the well-known informations on physiological characteristics of seedlings. It was informed that the seedling grown under sparse seeding rate or the seedling grown at upland nursery was generally healthy and capable of producing high yield under the paddy field condition after transplanting. Similarly, the seedling grown under same conditions possessed better physical characteristics which were beneficial for mechanical transplanting.

Growth reduction in American sycamore ( Plantanus occidentalis L.) caused by PbCd interaction

Seedlings of American sycamore ( Plantanus occidentalis L.) were grown in Drummer silty clay loam soil treated with various concentrations of Pb, Cd, or Pb plus Cd. Plant growth and heavy metal content were measured at the end of 90 days. Heavy metal accumulation by plant parts increased with soil treatment levels but was much lower than values previously reported in the literature. Root growth, woody stem diameter increment, new stem growth and foliage growth were found to be synergistically affected by the PbCd treatment. Whilst treatment with Pb or Cd alone caused a reduction in photosynthesis and transpiration, the addition of Cd to Pb-treated plants did not reduce rates of photosynthesis and transpiration below that observed for plants treated with Pb alone. A method is proposed to quantitate the concept of synergism.

Laboratory rearing of potato cyst nematode; a method suitable for pathotyping and biological studies

A method is described for the laboratory rearing of potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Mulvey & Stone, 1976 and G. pallida (Stone, 1973) Mulvey & Stone, 1976. Potato root systems were grown in 500 ml of sand in closed, clear plastic canisters. The enclosed system inhibited foliage growth and stabilised moisture balance. Root systems were sustained by the seed tubers, but supplementary nutrient was added. Potato cyst nematode eggs were inoculated into the sand after root initiation. At optimum rearing temperatures of 15–20°c the life cycle was completed within 8–12 weeks. The cyst‐to‐cyst multiplication factor was 10–20‐fold. The method has the advantage of not requiring light, and rearing canisters can be stacked in standard incubators. Its high reliability renders the method particularly suited to pathotype analysis.

Pressure Trunk Injection Promising for Pecan and other Trees1

Abstract Pressure trunk injection of Zn sulfate solutions rapidly increased leaf Zn levels of Zn deficient trees in pecan (Carya illinoensis (Wang.) K. Koch). Injection of 2270 g/tree killed foliage and twig terminals within one week. New foliage growth appeared normal but was high in Zn. Injected Rhodamine B dye indicates that solutions move rapidly to the extremities of the tree. Injected wood preservative “Osmose” killed trees within 10 days.

The Vascular Pattern of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) 1. The Young Seedling and Its Variability

The vascular system of the young Italian ryegrass seedling (Lolium multiflorwn Lam.) is very similar to that of oat (Avena) which has been described in the past. Early accounts however fail to record the distinctive separate course of the xylem and phloem constituents of the bundles at the coleoptilar node. The ascending mesocotylar trace is bicollateral. It continues up, in part, into the mid-vein of the first foliage leaf and arches over, joining the bases of the two coleoptilar traces, to become the collateral scutellar trace. Considerable variation exists from seedling to seedling in the details of the vascular pattern. This is coupled with additional variation in mesocotyl elongation, extent of the coleoptilar node, number and location of lateral root primordia and their maturation, rate of growth of coleoptile and first foliage leaves and the rate of vascular differentiation within them. Possible causes of this variability are discussed and it is noted that apparently identical plants, selected on a single morphological criterion such as degree of elongation of the coleoptile, may be expected to differ markedly in other morphological and anatomical aspects, influencing their performance in physiological experimentation.

ダイコンの生長と光合成における子葉の役割

When cotyledons of radish plants were excised at an early stage of growth, decrease in plant growth was observed. To understand this phenomenon, the role of cotyledons in radish growth was examined.Dry weight of cotyledons decreased and that of the other organs increased in the dark, whereas dry weight of every organ increased in the light. Furthermore, dry weight of hypocotyls and that of roots decreased in decotylized plants grown in the light, but decrease in dry weight of foliage leaves was not observed. From these results, it was concluded that cotyledons were the source and the other organs were the sink. Especially, the foliage leaves could be regarded as the strongest sink.In Rapid Red cultivar, the growth phase could be divided into two periods (Phase 1 and Phase 2). In Phase 1, the growth of foliage leaves was enhanced by the supply of reserve materials and photosynthetic products from cotyledons. In Phase 2, activet hickening growth of hypocotyls was caused by a sufficient supply of photosynthetic products from foliage leaves. Therefore, it is concluded that the decrease in radish growth by decotylization is due to the resulting decrease in the growth of foliage leaves.

Seed Yield Coronilla Varia L.1

AbstractAlthough average seed yields of crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.) are low, there are to our knowledge no published data on potential yields and on losses incurred during harvest. To secure such information, samples of crownvetch forage and the contained seed were hand harvested in 1970 and 1971 from a 24‐ha commercial seed field of the variety ‘Penngift.’ The seed was hand‐hulled and cleaned to certified standards. The mean yield of handharvested seed in 1970, a year of above‐normal precipitation and very heavy forage growth, was 257 kg/ha. In 1971, with precipitation slightly below normal, the mean yield was 530 kg/ha. Field losses during commercial harvest were about 61% in 1970 and 58% in 1971. Seed harvest in crownvetch is complicated by uneven maturity caused by an indeterminate flowering habit and by a tendency for the seedpod or loment to shatter readily when disturbed. In addition, a dense growth of foliage must be combined to recover the seeds.

Foliage Canopy Development of ‘Mcintosh’ Apple Hedgerows in Relation to Mechanical Pruning, the Interception of Solar Radiation, and Fruiting1

Abstract The percentage of solar radiation passing through the foliage canopy of ‘Mcintosh’ hedgerows, A) pruned annually by cutterbar and B) pruned by slotting saw, was measured continuously from pre-bloom until the completion of foliage growth in late July. Assuming the spur leaf canopy (Sp), emerges first and virtually completes growth before the shoot leaf canopy (Sh), emerges, the relative extent of Sp and Sh, and their respective interception of radiation is calculated at approximately 4-day intervals during the growing season. Even though A produced more total foliage and intercepted more total radiation, the spurs of B produced more flowers and more fruit. Spur leaf canopy B intercepted more solar radiation because of less shading by Sh. The maximum ratio Sh/Sp for adequate illumination of Sp is estimated to be about .8. The relative importance of sunlight on Sp and the time of interception of light during the growing season in relation to flower bud initiation and fruit development are discussed.

Carry-over effects of sprouting and haulm destruction in the potato seed crop

Seed of differing maturity dates of cv.Arran Pilot andMajestic were produced by planting sprouted and unsprouted mother tubers and by either destroying the foliage 2–3 weeks before senescence or allowing natural maturity to take place. Seed from crops of earlier natural maturity sprouted earlier and inArran Pilot grew faster if sprouting was encouraged soon after harvest. Other small differences in sprout growth were recorded, but none of the treatments applied to the first generation crop affected the time of emergence, stem number, growth of foliage or tubers in the second generation crop.

Shoot Zone Uptake and Translocation of Soil-Applied Herbicides

Diphenamid (N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenylacetamide) severely inhibited adventitious roots in the shoot zone of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench., var. RS 610) and corn (Zea maysL., var. WF9 X B37) without decreasing foliage growth. Using diphenamid to inhibit shoot zone roots, the presence of adventitious roots was shown to increase foliage injury to corn, sorghum, or both when exposed to 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea (diuron), 2-(ethylamino)-4-(isopropylamino)-6-(methylthio)-s-triazine (ametryne), or 3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil (terbacil) in the shoot zone. Inhibition of adventitious roots was associated with a decrease in uptake of14C-diuron and14C-ametryne in both corn and sorghum. Inhibition of the adventitious roots did not alter the response of corn or sorghum, as measured by top growth, when treated with dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), isopropyl-m-chlorocarbanilate (chlorpropham),S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC), andα,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin). The meristematic region of the sorghum shoot before emergence was more sensitive than other regions of the shoot to DCPA and chlorpropham. Injury from other application sites depended upon uptake from the treated area and movement to the meristematic region, where both herbicides appear to be acting.

REPRODUCTION OF PRATYLENCHUS PENETRANS AND GROWTH OF BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL AS INFLUENCED BY SOIL MOISTURE AND CUTTING MANAGEMENT

Significantly less root and foliage growth of Empire birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L., was recorded at a soil moisture level of approximately 50% of field capacity (FC) when compared with that at 70–100% FC. The root lesion nematode, [Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) Filip. and Stekh], significantly reduced root and foliage yields of plants growing in soil at 70–100% FC, but there was no effect at 50% FC. The nematode population increased gradually throughout the experiment in plants at low soil moisture, whereas, at the higher soil moisture, population development was more rapid early in the experiment. Root and foliage yields were reduced significantly by cutting at early flowering and cutting at 2.5 cm above soil every 3 weeks. Nematodes reduced foliage yields significantly in all cutting management treatments, with the greatest reduction recorded when plants were cut at the early flowering stage. Nematode numbers per gram of rootlets increased more rapidly with more severe cutting. Total nematode reproduction was proportional to root yield.

Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of Mukhi Kachu

An experiment was conducted with different concentrations of plant growth regulators to evaluate their effects on the growth and yield of late planted Mukhi Kachu (Colocsis esculenta). Different treatments of uniconazole (growth retardant showed significant influence on plant height, petiole length, number of leases per plant, weight of leaf and weight of petioles per hill, number and weight of corms and cormels per hill and yield of cormel. GA3, (growth promoter) enhanced foliage growth, flowering, and cormel development Key Words: Growth regulators; Mukhi Kachu (Colocusis esculenta); yield. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v34i2.5794Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(2): 233-238, June 2009

The influence of the mother tuber on growth and tuberization of potatoes.

Sprouts separated from mother tubers showed under certain conditions (e.g. in the late variety Alpha under long-day) good foliage growth comparable with that of plants with a mother tuber; under other conditions (e.g. in the early variety Eersteling under short-day) foliage growth produced by such sprouts was relatively weak. Root development of the sprouts determined to a large degree the foliage growth and tuber yield. Experiments with Alpha showed that no direct or indirect influence of a mother tuber or inducing conditions (short-day) are necessary for tuberization, indicating that tuberization is a normal phase in the development of potato plants. In these experiments. plants from sprouts, cuttings of the 1st generation taken from these sproutlings and cuttings of the 2nd generation taken from the cuttings of the 1st generation, produced tubers under non-inducing conditions (long-day).-A.G.G.H. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Root and Foliage Growth of Oats at Several Levels of Fertility and Moisture1

AbstractThe effects of fertility and moisture on root and shoot gorwth of oats (Avena sativa L.) were studied in potculture experiments. An experimental unit was a 75‐liter garbage can filled with low‐fertility Thurman sand, embedded 0.6 m deep in the soil. Forty‐eight can were covered with a plastic shelter to permit controlled moisture regimes. A factorial set of fertilizer treatments using two levels each of N (0 and 140 kg/ha), P (0 and kg/ha), and K (0 and 93 kg/ha) were applied at seeding time. At the initiation of stem elongation, wet (field capacity) and dry (wilting coefficient) moisture regimes were imposed across all fertility treatments.Traits measured on the plant tops were plant height, number of tillers, number of spikelets per panicle, dry weight and stem diameter. Weights were taken on roots extracted from 0.007‐m3 soil samples from the 0‐15‐, 15‐30‐, 30‐45‐, and 45‐60‐cm soil depths.The root and shoot growth responded more to fertilizer application when moisture was adequate than when deficient. Nitrogen and phosphorus, applied alone and in combination, gave more shoot and root growth than any other element or combination of elements. Shoot growth responded to added fertilizer in both the high and low moisture regimes, but root growth responded only in the wet regime. Leaching of the nutrients with surface irrigations caused maximum root response to N in the 30‐45‐ cm zone, but for P, which resists leaching, maximum response was in the 0‐15‐cm zone. Reduced root‐top ratios resulting from added moisture and fertilizer elements were due largely to large increases in top growth without concomitant increases in root growth.Increase in shoot weight from added fertilizer under the dry regime was not accompanied by increased root weight. We concluded that root response to added fertility could not be responsible for oat plants utilizing subsoil (30‐60‐cm depth) moisture to produce increased shoot weights.

Studies on the Relation between Location of the First Peduncle Base of the Main Stem and Yield of Potatoes

Forecast of tuber yield by haulm growth, if possible, may mean a lot for the potato breeding and cultivation. Since it has been said that there is no high correlation between haulm growth and tuber yield in potatoes, we have tried to classify ecological types according to the different processes of haulm growth, thus studying relations between ecological type and tuber yield. The stem length from the first peduncle of main stem to soil surface was named the stem length under peduncle, and that from the first peduncle to the growing point the stem length above peduncle. The stem length under peduncle was revealed to have a close connection with haulm growth from early to middle stage of growing season, and the stem length above peduncle with that from middle to late stage. In many cases high positive correlations were found between the stem length under peduncle and starch yield from tubers, while relatively high negative or low positive correlations were found between the stem length above peduncle and starch yield from tubers. Haulm growth, showing longer stem length above the peduncle, especially provided with shorter stem length under the peduncle, resulted delayed growth, excessive foliage growth and lodging. Consequently growing conditions were unfavolable for tuber bulking and accumulation of starch in tubers. By means of laies the stem length under the peduncle on the X axis and the stem length above the peduncle on the Y axis, dividing both by their mean values, were obtained four ecological types. From the table 5, it was known that type I and IV, accompanied by longer stem length under the peduncle produced more starch yield than type II and III that have shorter stem length under the peduncle. Comparing type II with IV, although each type had nearly equal stem length, features of the growth are different and accumulation of starch in tubers was greater in the type IV than in the type II. In conclusion, it was suggested that studies of cultivation method accelerate the stem length under the peduncle must be done and in breeding potatoes, elimination of such type as II would be desirable.