Shoot Height Growth Research Articles

Shoot Culture of Ocimum sp. and Its Phytochemical Profile

The success of the in vitro culture technique is influenced by many factors, including the type of explants, culture medium and exogenous plant growth regulators (PGR). These factors greatly influence the speed and effectiveness of plant regeneration as well as the profile of the phytochemical compounds produced. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of the PGR combination on the growth response of in vitro node explants as well as the phytochemical profiles of Ocimum sp. Node explants obtained from 2 weeks old in vitro seedlings were cultured on MS medium with the addition of PGR, namely BAP and Kinetin (0.2 and 5 mg/l) combined with NAA (0.1 and 0.2 mg/l) and synthetic cytokinins alone namely Thidiazuron (TDZ) (1, 3, and 5 mg/l). The growth response of the explants and the potential for regeneration were observed for 8 weeks of culture. Effects of adding activated charcoal (AC) to root media were observed on growth of plantlets aged 2 weeks. Phytochemical profile of In vitro shoot was analyzed using GC-MS and LC-MS to be compared with its profile in in vitro callus tissue. The results showed that MS medium with the addition of a combination of cytokinin and auxin was able to induce shoot regeneration in node explants of Ocimum sp. in vitro. The Kinetin/NAA combination produced better shoot height growth, while the BAP/NAA combination produced a higher leaves number. Thidiazuron at all concentrations was able to induce shoots that were more likely to form rosettes. The addition of AC to the rooting medium did not have a positive effect on the response of shoot and plantlet growth. Chromatographic screening showed different profiles of secondary compounds in the callus and shoot tissues of Ocimum sp. in vitro. Callus composed of actively dividing cells do not produce some of the secondary compounds as produced by in vitro shoots. This shows the difference in the potential of cells or tissues in synthesizing secondary metabolites.

Direct evidence of drought stress memory in mulberry from a physiological perspective: Antioxidative, osmotic and phytohormonal regulations

Drought stress commonly happens more than once during the life cycle of perennial trees. Stress memory endows better capacity to cope with repeated stresses for plants, while the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. In this study, 2-month-old saplings of two mulberry cultivars (Husang32 and 7307 of Morus multicaulis) with or without an early soil water deficit were subjected to subsequent drought for 9 days. The shoot height growth, biomass production, stable carbon isotope discrimination, phytohormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS), osmotic substances and antioxidant enzymes were analyzed after the first and the second drought, respectively. Drought priming saplings sustained comparable or slightly higher biomass accumulation under the second drought than those non-priming. They also exhibited decreased levels of soluble sugars, free proline and soluble proteins, lower accumulation of malonaldehyde (MDA) and superoxide anion (O2•−), reduced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) compared to non-priming plants. Moreover, cultivar Husang32 exhibited elevated abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) where 7307 displayed opposite changes. PCA suggests that MDA, H2O2, free proline, SOD and POD in roots, and ROS, soluble sugars and glutamate reductase in leaves are dominant factors influenced by stress memory. ABA and JA in leaves also play important roles in exerting drought imprints. Collectively, stress memory can confer mulberry resistance to recurrent drought via combined regulations of antioxidative protection, osmotic adjustment and phytohormonal responses.

Pertumbuhan Tanaman Bawang Merah (Allium cepa L.) Menggunakan ZPT Organik

Many people think that Styrofoam is just a waste and cannot be utilized, as time goes by, with the narrower land, styrofoam media is very helpful for planting media. One of them is the cultivation of shallot plants which contain nutrients and active chemical substances that have benefits for health apart from being a complementary spice. In the growth process, of course, shallots need organic compounds as a physiological process known as ZPT. The natural ingredients used as ZPT are cherry water and sprouts extract.The purpose of this study was to determine the use of styrofoam media for the growth of shallot plants using organic ZPT. This research is an experimental study and the research design used a single factor completely randomized design, with 4 levels, namely 0.75, 100, 150 and 170%. Each treatment with four replicates of auxin ZPT, namely the Bio TECH msg 3 brand with a dose of 10g / ml was used as a comparison. Based on the results of the analysis using the ANOVA test, the results were (? = 0.00) for shoot height growth, (? = 0.00) for the number of shoots, (? = 0.00) for the number of roots and (? = 0.00) for the root length. This proves that giving organic auxin ZPT 170% has a significant effect on the growth of shallot plants. So it is recommended that the community when cultivating plants is recommended to use 170% organic auxin ZPT on Styrofoam media because it saves more land and is cheap.

Developing sustainable regeneration techniques for four African mahogany species: grafting methods for success and growth

Development of planting materials through vegetative propagation has been difficult in some timber species due to ontogenetic aging which slows down rooting of stem cuttings. Applying grafting techniques helped produce quality planting materials with unique characters, as these techniques influenced union establishment and successful growth of the grafted plants. This study assessed effects of different grafting techniques on establishment and early growth of four African mahogany species (Khaya ivorensis, K. anthotheca, K. grandifoliola and K. senegalensis) using 2-year old seedling rootstocks and scions from mature trees with desirable stem form. We assessed effects of three grafting methods (top-cleft, side grafting, and whip and tongue), and scion type on growth performance of the African mahogany species at 6 months after grafting. K. grandifoliola scion grafted onto K. grandifoliola rootstock recorded highest mean graft success (81.67%), number of leaves formed (11.6) and shoot height growth (7.47 cm) in the top-cleft method. The whip and tongue method was least successful among the three methods. Homografted plants had greatest influence on the grafting parameters for highest mean successes in K. grandifoliola/K. grandifoliola (81.67%), K. anthotheca/K. anthotheca (73.33%) and K. senegalensis/K. senegalensis (63.33%) except K. ivorensis scion type which occurred in the heterograft K. grandifoliola/K. ivorensis (76.67%). Highest performance of the top-cleft method is attributed to good contact between cambia of the grafted species and thus their easy union and growth. Grafting of the four African mahogany species is most successful using top-cleft grafting technique for sustainable production of improved cultivars for restoration and conservation.

RESPON PERTUMBUHAN TUNAS SANINTEN (Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC.) TERHADAP PEMBERIAN ZAT PENGATUR TUMBUH BAP DAN IAA SECARA IN VITRO The growth response of Saninten (Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC.) In Vitro by Adding Plant Growth Regulator BAP

Saninten (Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC.) is one of the member Fagaceae family which can produce wood and non-wood product. Micropropagation of saninten by in vitro has never been reported. This research aims to identify the growth response of saninten shoot by adding Plant Growth Regulator (PGR), they are 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-acetic-acid (IAA) with different concentrations in propagation in vitro on woody plant medium (WPM). The research conducted a completely randomized design (CRD) factorial. They are PGR type and PGR concentration. The PGR type consist of two levels namely BAP and IAA. PGR concentration consist of three levels namely 0 mg/L BAP and IAA, 0.5 mg/L BAP or 0.1 mg/L IAA, and 1.0 mg/L BAP or 0.1 mg/L IAA. Parameters observed is the amount of shoot, shoot height, and callus growth. The combination of BAP (0, 0.5, 1 mg/L) and IAA (0, 0.1, 0.1 mg/L) haven’t produce optimal growth of shoot. WPM medium with 0.5 mg/L BAP was able to produce the best of percentage of shoot, the number of shoots, and shoot height growth. WPM medium with IAA concentration of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/L produce explant with callus.Key words: 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), Castanopsis argentea, indole-3-acetic-acid (IAA), woody plant medium (WPM)

Culm sheaths affect height growth of bamboo shoots in Fargesia yunnanensis

Culm sheath is an important morphological characteristic of bamboos; however, its physiological functions are still unknown. The main goal of this study was to examine the physiological functions of culm sheaths and their effects on the height growth of Fargesia yunnanensis Hsueh et Yi shoots. The elongating internodes were analyzed for determining the soluble sugar and starch contents, as well as the water potential of different sections. The transpiration rates were also determined and compared between culm sheaths and foliage leaf blades. The effects of culm sheaths on the shoot height growth were also analyzed. The results showed that the outer zone had higher starch but lower soluble sugar contents than the inner zone in the developing shoots. The transpiration rate of culm sheaths was far higher than that of leaves. The water potential of the outer zone was lower than that of the inner zone in bamboo culms. The growth of bamboo culms decreased without culm sheaths. When one strip of culm sheaths was peeled off longitudinally from young culms, the bare side of the culms curved rapidly after one night, and the water potential gradient between the inner and outer zones significantly decreased, further demonstrating that sheaths have significant effects on bamboo culm height growth.

Performance of germinating tree seedlings below and above treeline in the Swiss Alps

The germination and early survival of tree seedlings is a critical process for the understanding of treeline dynamics with ongoing climate change. Here we analyzed the performance of 0–4 year-old seedlings of seven tree species at three sites above and below the current altitudinal treeline in the Swiss Central Alps near Davos. Starting from sown seeds, we monitored the seedling performance as proportions of living seedlings, seedling shoot height growth, and biomass allocation over 4 years to examine changes along an elevational gradient. We evaluated the relative importance of the environmental factors soil temperature, light conditions, water use efficiency, and nitrogen availability on seedling performance. During the 4 years, the proportions of living seedlings differed only slightly along the elevational gradient even in species currently occurring at lower elevations. Microsite-specific soil temperature and light availability had only little effect on the proportion of living seedlings and seedling biomass across the elevational gradient. Conversely, seedling biomass and biomass allocation correlated well with the foliar stable nitrogen isotope abundance (δ 15N) that was used as an indicator for nitrogen availability. Collectively, our results suggested that the early establishment of seedlings of a variety of tree species in the treeline ecotone was not limited by current climatic conditions even beyond the species’ actual upper distribution limit. Nitrogen dynamics appeared to be an important environmental co-driver for biomass production and allocation in very young tree seedlings.

Provenance-specific growth responses to drought and air warming in three European oak species (Quercus robur, Q. petraea and Q. pubescens)

Provenance-specific growth responses to experimentally applied drought and air warming were studied in saplings of three European oak species: Quercus robur, Quercus petraea and Quercus pubescens. Four provenances of each species were grown in large open-top chambers and subjected to four climates: control, periodic drought, air warming or their combination in 3 subsequent years. Overall growth responses were found among species and provenances, with drought reducing shoot height growth and stem diameter growth and air warming stimulating shoot height growth but reducing stem diameter growth and root length growth. Differential growth responses in shoots, stems and roots resulted in altered allometric growth relations. Root length growth to shoot height growth increased in response to drought but decreased in response to air warming. Stem diameter growth to shoot height growth decreased in response to air warming. The growth responses in shoots and stems were highly variable among provenances indicating provenance-specific sensitivity to drought and air warming, but this response variability did not reflect local adaptation to climate conditions of provenance origin. Shoot height growth was found to be more sensitive to drought in provenances from northern latitudes than in provenances from southern latitudes, suggesting that genetic factors related to the postglacial immigration history of European oaks might have interfered with selective pressure at provenance origins.

Cold acclimation was partially impaired in boron deficient Norway spruce seedlings

Susceptibility of trees to freezing injury has been suggested to increase in boron (B) deficiency but there is no experimental evidence to support this proposition. In this study, Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) seedlings were cultivated for two growing seasons in deficient, intermediate and ‘optimal’ B levels. Cold hardening of the seedlings was measured after the second growing season. Freezing tolerance in tips of shoots, needles, stems and roots was determined by controlled freezing tests and electrolyte leakage method, and that of buds, in addition, by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Electrical impedance was used to monitor changes in the apoplastic space during cold acclimation. Root dry weight and shoot height growth were lower in B deficiency. Cold acclimation of buds and stems was reduced by B deficiency. When hardened seedlings were subjected to subzero temperatures for 3 weeks, extracellular electrical resistance of stems became the highest at the lowest B supply which was probably due to decreased desiccation tolerance. As a conclusion, susceptibility to freezing damage may be increased by B deficiency in Norway spruce trees.

Effect of drainage and microtopography in forested wetlands on the microenvironment and growth of planted black spruce seedlings

Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) seedlings were planted on eight drained forested wetland cutblocks to study the effects of soil type, distance from drainage ditch, and microtopography on the physical conditions of the rooting zone and on seedling growth, survival, and physiology. After two growing seasons, providing a raised planting spot had a greater impact on seedling growth than locally intensive drainage. Less saturated, better aerated, and warmer rooting zone on hummocks increased foliar N and Ca concentrations, which led to significantly greater relative growth rate, terminal shoot height growth, diameter, and survival compared with the seedlings in hollows. The effect of drainage on seedling growth is not conclusive. Depth of the aerobic layer and soil water content at 10 cm depth were similar at all distances to the ditch despite a significantly lower water table level in the 5-m plot. Thus, no significant differences were observed as a function of distance to drainage ditch for water relation and growth parameters except for better height growth in the 5-m plot the second year after planting. Water table levels were identical for both soil types and consequently growth was similar on wet mineral and organic soil types.

Growth Dynamics of Shoot Height and Foliage Structure of a Rhizomatous Perennial Herb, Polygonum cuspidatum

The growth dynamics of shoot populations of Polygonum cuspidatum were investigated at the Houei crater (approx. 2380 m above sea level) on the south-eastern slope of Mount Fuji. At this study site, a genetic individual of this species produces a population of shoots in the form of a patch occupying a certain ground area. Generally, genetic individuals are located away from each other and hence there is little interaction between individuals. A large-sized individual occupying 31·2 m2 ground area with shoots, a medium-sized individual (5·6 m2) and a small-sized individual (1·4 m2) were selected for this study. In each individual, growth was investigated at the shoot level. The results were analysed based on the diffusion model. Early in the growing season in 1990, there was little difference in LAI (leaf area index) and shoot density between the individuals. Shoots of the small- and medium-sized individuals showed size-independent height growth, whilst those of the larger-sized individual showed size-dependent height growth. Consequently, small-sized shoots of the small- and the medium-sized individuals had greater RGRs of shoot height growth than those of the large individual at the early stage. As a result, in the small- and medium-sized individuals, cv (coefficient of variance) and skewness of shoot height decreased with time. Increases in cv and skewness of shoot height were found in the large-sized individual. The size-independent growth pattern of shoot height in the small- and medium-sized individuals during early growing stages is different from the growth pattern of non-clonal plant species, in which plant height growth is positively size-dependent. The existence of a regulatory mechanism of shoot height growth is suggested for the small- and medium-sized individuals. The foliage structure of the large-sized individual was different from that of the medium- and small-sized individuals. The foliage structure of small- and medium-sized individuals was similar to the theoretical "optimal foliage structure" of plants. In clonal plant species, a genetic individual occupies a certain ground area with its shoots. Therefore, "optimal foliage structure" per unit ground area brings about maximization of photosynthetic rate for a genetic individual, which is consistent with the maximization of fitness at the level of the individual plant.

Growth Responses to Flooding and Recovery of Deciduous Trees

Tree seedling flooding tolerance for 22 species was assessed under controlled field conditions. Initial heights under control (freely draining soil, n = 20 per species) and flooded (standing water, depth = 10 cm, n = 20 per species) conditions were measured in March 1990. Survival, height and diameter growth were determined after 120 days. Recovery from flooding effects was assessed in the following growing season from March to August, 1991. Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich, exhibited enhanced growth when flooded. Acer saccharinum L., Fraxinus excelsior L., and Quercus robur L. increased diameter but not height growth. The following species exhibited reduced growth and/or survival: Acer campestre L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Acer rubrum L., Betula nigra L., Betula papyrifera Marsh, Betula pubescens Ehrh., Betula pendula Roth, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., Prunus padus L., Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quercus palustris M uenchh., Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl., Rhamnus cathartica L., Salix purpurea L., Sorbus aucuparia L., Tilia cordata Mill., and Ulmus glabra Huds. emend. Moss. Recovery from flooding in the second growing season was well established with A. saccharinum, C. monogyna, Qu. palustris, Qu. petraea, S. purpurea, U. glabra, while height growth relative to the flooding period was retarded in A. rubrum, F. grandifolia, F. excelsior, Qu. robur, Rh. cathartica, and S. aucuparia. Mortality increased with B. p a pyrifera and F. grandifolia. Flooded trees of B. nigra, B. pendula, and Rh. cathartica appeared to be strongly handicapped by losing their natural resistance against frost even in the following growing season. By decreasing shoot height growth and biomass production, long-term flooding is suggested to reduce the competitive ability of most tree species in the succession of natural forests in habitats which will be inundated more frequently in future when precipitation is increased by the predicted climatic change.

Growth Response and Drought Susceptibility of Red Spruce Seedlings Exposed to Simulated Acidic Rain and Ozone

Abstract One-year-old seedlings of red spruce were exposed to O3 (≤0.025 or 0.10 μl 1-1, 4 h d-1, 3 d wk-1) in combination with simulated rain (pH 5.6 or 3.0, 1 h d-1, 2 d wk-1, 0.75 cm h-1) for 10 weeks. After pollutant treatments, seedlings were subjected to two successive drought cycles. Whole-plant fresh weight increment (FWT) and dry weight were reduced after O3 exposure, whereas FWT and shoot height growth were increased after simulated rain exposure at pH 3.0 compared to pH 5.6. No interaction between O3 and rain treatments was observed for any growth variable measured. Foliar concentrations of K and S were greater in seedlings exposed to simulated rain at pH 3.0 compared with those at pH 5.6. Root hydraulic conductivity was highest in seedlings exposed to 0.10 μl 1-1 O3 + pH 3.0 rain solution compared with all other treatments after the first drought cycle. There were no significant O3 effects on net photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration or water-use efficiency prior to the drought cycles. However, during the second drought cycle, Pn was more sensitive to branch water potential in seedlings exposed to 0.10 μl 1-1 O3 + pH 3.0 solution compared with seedlings exposed to low O3 + pH 5.6 solution. For. Sci. 36(2):265-275.

Variations in photosynthetic, anatomical, and enzymatic leaf traits and correlations with growth in recently selected Populus hybrids

Several photosynthetic, anatomical, and enzymatic leaf traits were studied on 1- and 2-year-old fast growing Populus clones representing interspecific hybrids of P. deltoides, P. trichocarpa, and P. maximowiczii. Growth performance of the clones was studied with container-grown plants and for 5 years in the field. Considerable variation in photosynthetic, anatomical, and enzymatic leaf traits was found, but variation in growth differences among the clonal groups was minimal. Photosynthetic photon flux density saturated net photosynthesis of 1-year-old container-grown plants was significantly correlated with shoot height growth, but none of the other leaf traits measured showed a significant correlation with any of the growth characteristics. Clonal groups could be segregated by taxonomic and genetic affinities with hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis. Although enzymatic and biochemical traits (area leaf weight, ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities, protein content) and adaxial stomatal frequency can be used to discriminate among clonal groups, no significant regression of these leaf traits on growth performance was observed.

Response of yellow poplar (Liriodendrontulipifera L.) seedling shoot growth to low concentrations of O3, SO2, and NO2

Six-week-old yellow poplar (Liriodendrontulipifera L.) seedlings from one half-sib family were exposed to various combinations of 0.07 ppm O3, 0.06 ppm SO2, and 0.10 ppm NO2 6 h daily for 35 consecutive days. Ozone and SO2 alone did not suppress total shoot elongation compared with control seedlings after the 5-week fumigation period, whereas the combinations of O3 + SO2, SO2 + NO2, or O3 + SO2 + NO2 significantly reduced total shoot height 51, 64, and 51%, respectively. Of the pollutant combinations, SO2 + NO2 most severely inhibited the rate of height growth with this effect initially occurring after only 2 weeks of fumigation. The dry weight of seedlings exposed to O3 + SO2, SO2 + NO2, or O3 + SO2 + NO2 were significantly less than plants exposed to no pollutants, O3, or SO2. Total shoot height growth was highly correlated with seedling dry weight (r = 0.97)

Poplar Clonal Preferences of the Cottonwood Leaf Beetle12

The relative susceptibilities of 33 poplar clones to Chrysomela Scripta F. were measured in 1977 during a season of heavy infestation of this insect in a clonal orchard at Ames, Iowa. Damage to trees was estimated by using the criteria of shoots no longer usable for cuttings and leaf area lost to beetle feeding. Of the 3 clones showing little or no damage in either category, 2 had Populus alba L. parentage. Other than P. alba , parentage had little influence on beetle preference. Although most clones resumed growth during the season, shoot height growth was reduced as much as 80% in severely defoliated clones.