Analytical studies on the responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) to various defoliation treatments |
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Authors: | Shigeru Mariko Kinji Hogetsu |
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Institution: | (1) Faculty of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Tamagawa-Gakuen 6-1-1, 194 Machida-shi, Tokyo, Japan |
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Abstract: | The effects of defoliation treatments on plant growth in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were studied in the field. Four defoliation treatments, 0 (control), 37.4, 56.1 and 93.4% of the total leaf dry weight,
were applied to plants that had small third leaves. Decreased leaf weight/whole plant weight (F/W) ratios in defoliated plants
rapidly recovered to almost the same ratio as that observed in the control within 12 to 16 days after defoliation according
to the degree of defoliation. The mechanism involved in the recovery of the F/W ratio in defoliated plants mainly consisted
of three parameters: enhancement of (1) carbon distribution ratios in the leaves, (2) photosynthetic activity in the remaining
leaves, and (3) retranslocation of carbon from the stem and/or roots to leaves.
Inhibitive effects of defoliation on relative growth rate and net assimilation rate were seen at an early stage, but subsequently
both rates became larger in defoliated plants than in controls. Defoliated plants tended to show rapid development and expansion
of new leaves, and to show increased specific leaf area and protein synthesis in individual leaves. The sugar content of leaves
in defoliated plants was higher than that in controls, while the content in both stem and roots was lower. These responses
seem to be advantageous for development of the photosynthetic system. Heights of defoliated plants were clearly depressed
according to the degree of defoliation, and this was attributed largely to differences in the elongation rates of the internodes
resulting from defoliation. |
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Keywords: | Defoliation Dry matter distribution Growth parameter Photosynthesis |
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