Leaf and Tiller Production of Prairie Grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and Two Ryegrass (Lolium) Species

A detailed morphological study of three prairie grass cultivars(Bromus willdenowii Kunth) was conducted under ‘vegetative’and ‘reproductive’ growth conditions (short andlong photoperiods) and at different temperatures. Perennialryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Westerwolds ryegrass (Loliummuhiflorum Lam.) were compared during vegetative growth. Prairie grass had higher leaf appearance rates (leaves per tillerper day) and lower site filling (tillers per tiller per leafappearance interval) than the ryegrass species. Tillering rates(tillers per tiller per day) were also lower, except under vegetativeconditions at 4C. Low tiller number in prairie grass was notdue to lack of tiller sites but a result of poor filling ofthese sites. Lower site filling occurred because of increaseddelays in appearance of the youngest axillary tiller and lackof axillary tillers emerging from basal tiller buds. In prairiegrass, no tillers came from coleoptile buds while only occasionallydid prophyll buds develop tillers. Low tiller number in prairiegrass was compensated for by greater tiller weight. Prairiegrass had more live leaves per tiller, greater area per leafand a high leaf area per plant. Considerable variation between cultivars was found in prairiegrass. The cultivar ‘Bellegarde’ had high leaf appearance,large leaves and rapid reproductive development, but had lowlevels of site filling, tillering rate, final tiller numberand herbage quality during reproductive growth. ‘Primabel’tended to have the opposite levels for these parameters, while‘Grasslands Matua’ was intermediate and possiblyprovided the best balance of all plant parameters. prairie grass, Bromus willdenowii Kunth, perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., Westerwolds ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam., temperature, photoperiod, leaf appearance, leaf area, tillering, site filling, tillering sites, yield     

Growth and Dry-weight Distribution in Callistephus chinensis as Influenced by Lighting Treatment

Plants of two cultivars of Callistephus chinensis (Queen ofthe Market and Johannistag) were grown in 8 h of daylight perday with one of the following treatments given during the 16h dark period: (a) darkness—‘uninterrupted night’,(b) I h of light in the middle of the dark period—a ‘nightbreak’, (c) I min of light in every hour of the dark period—‘cycliclighting’, (d) light throughout—‘continuouslight’. The plants receiving uninterrupted dark periods remained compactand rosetted in habit with small leaves, while leaf expansion,stem extension, and flower initiation were promoted in all threeillumination treatments (b, c, d). Although these three treatmentsproduced similar increases in leaf area, continuous light wasthe most effective for the promotion of both stem growth andflower initiation while cyclic lighting was generally more effectivethan a I-h night break. Continuous light also caused more dry matter to be divertedto stems at any given vegetative dry weight and it was shownthat the stem weight ratio of both varieties was correlatedwith stem length.     

Temperature Effects on Phenological Development and Yield of Muskmelon

Our goal was to construct a simple muskmelon phenology modelthat could be run with easily obtainable weather station dataand used by growers to quantify phenological development andaid in projecting harvest dates. A growth chamber experimentwas conducted with two cultivars of muskmelon (‘Gold Rush’and ‘Mission’) to determine how main vine leaf appearancerates responded to temperature. We identified three cardinaltemperatures for leaf appearance rate: the base temperature(10 °C) at which leaf appearance rate was zero; an optimumtemperature (34 °C) at which the rate of leaf appearancewas maximal; and an upper threshold temperature (45 °C)at which leaf appearance rate returned to zero. Using thesethree cardinal temperatures, we constructed a simplified thermalunit accumulator for hourly measurements of air temperature.Main vine plastochron interval (PI), thermal time to harvest,and final yield were determined for three cultivars of muskmelon(‘Explorer’, ‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Mission’)grown in the field at Overton, TX, USA, over six transplantingdates from March to June 1998. PI was calculated for each cultivarx transplanting date combination as the reciprocal of the slopeof main vine node number vs. accumulated hourly thermal units(     

Trade Winds Reduce Growth and Influence Gas Exchange Patterns in Papaya Seedlings

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effect of tradewinds in Guam, USA, on growth and gas exchange of three papaya(Carica papaya L.) cultivars. ‘Known You 1’, ‘Sunrise’,and ‘Tainung 2’ papaya seedlings at two differentstages of development were exposed to 0, 36 or 100% ambientwind. Wind exposure reduced stem height and leaf or stem dryweight in most cases, but had little influence on root growth.Net CO₂assimilation (A_CO2) at midday was lower for seedlingsexposed to wind than for those protected from wind. Dark respirationof exposed seedlings increased as much as 120% above that ofthe protected seedlings during the night. Wind exposure decreasedwhole plant evapotranspiration by up to 36% during the photoperiod,but increased evapotranspiration by 58–87% during thenocturnal period. Responses to wind exposure were similar amongcultivars, except that growth of ‘Tainung 2’ seedlingswas less affected by wind than that of the other cultivars.Seedlings that were exposed to the various wind treatments fromgermination onwards were less influenced by wind exposure thanwere seedlings that were grown in a protected nursery beforebeing exposed to the various wind treatments. These data indicatethat: (1) ambient trade winds in Guam are strong enough to decreasethe growth of papaya seedlings; (2) plant age influences theresponse; (3) stem and leaf growth are more influenced thanroot growth; and (4) decreasedA_CO2 and increased dark respirationmay be partly responsible for growth reduction. Copyright 2001Annals of Botany Company Carica papaya, gas exchange, wind     

Photoperiod Responses of Corchorus olitorius L. in Controlled Environments

Controlled environments were used to establish the base-linegrowth and to evaluate the photoperiodic response of two Tossajute (Corchorus olitorius) cultivars. Fresh and dry weightsof shoots and roots, leaf areas and stem lengths were much greaterat long day (LD) 12·5, 11·5 than LD 11·5,12·5 photoperiods for both cultivars. Root lengths weregreater at LD 12·5, 11·5 initially but were longestat LD 11·5, 12·5 at 35 days from emergence. Meanrelative growth rates (MRGR) were similar irrespective of photoperiodor cultivar but declined with plant age. The superior growthof cultivar ‘Yaya’ at LD 12·5, 11·5was due to more growth in the first 7 days, while, for cultivar‘Angbadu’ it was a combination of growth for 7 days,and higher MRGR up to 21 days. Stomatal density was greaterat LD 12·5, 11·5 than LD 11·5, 12·5. Corchorus olitorius L., Tossa jute, photoperiodism, relative growth rate     

The Growth and Carbon Economy of Selection Lines of Lolium perenne cv. S23 with Differing Rates of Dark Respiration: 2. Grown as Young Plants from Seed

Young plants of two selection lines of Lolium perenne cv. S23with ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ rates of ‘maturetissue’ respiration were individually grown from seed,together with plants of S23, their common parent, in 9.2 cmpots in a controlled environment at 20/15 °C day/night temperatures. No significant differences were found between the genotypesin leaf extension and tiller production during this early stageof their growth. They did differ however, by an average of 26%,in the rate of dark respiration of fully expanded leaf laminae.The use of a simple model demonstrated that such a differencein respiration could alone account for the different rates ofdry matter production shown by the selection lines when grownas young crops from seed. Possible penalties of ‘slow’respiration are also considered. Lolium perenne L., ryegrass, respiration, maintenance respiration, stimulated swards, leaf growth, tiller production, carbon economy     

Integrated Analysis of Growth and Light Interception in Winter Lettuce II. Differences between Cultivars

‘Integrated growth analysis’ (emphasizing aspectsof crop and plant structure) and ‘light conversion analysis’(stressing the efficiency of interception and photosyntheticconversion of light) have been used to investigate the wintergrowth of different cultivars of butterhead and crisphead typesof glasshouse lettuce. Measurements from ‘Ambassador’ (large-framed butterhead),‘Renate’ (medium-sized butterhead) and ‘Cristallo’(crisphead) were made, statistical progressions were fittedto the primary data and hence estimates of all the analyticalcomponents were derived. Curves for crop growth rate, like those for most other components,followed a generally similar pattern for all three cultivars.In integrated growth analysis, the biomass curve for Ambassadorlay above the curves for the other cultivars. The weight advantagewas initially 60 per cent and it persisted with only a smallreduction (to 40 per cent) until the final harvest. Relativegrowth rate varied little between cultivars because differencesobserved in leaf area ratio were complementary to those seenin net assimilation rate. In light conversion analysis, differences in light interceptingefficiency between cultivars were not statistically significant,though Ambassador attained full interception 4 days earlierthan Renate and 6 days earlier than Cristallo. Differences inlight utilizing efficiency were small and non-significant exceptduring the post-rosette stage when the value for Renate waslower than that of either Ambassador or Cristallo. Deviationsaround the fitted curves were correlated with fluctuations inthe light regime. An assessment is made of the utility and limitations of thetwo procedures. It is concluded that both approaches can assistin analyzing the rate of dry matter production in crops or plantstands. Integrated growth analysis is advantageous when theneed arises to treat individual and population-based attributessimultaneously, while light conversion analysis provides a meansof explicitly incorporating the primary environmental variableinfluencing growth. Lactuca sativa L., lettuce cultivars, growth analysis, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, light interception, light utilization     

Injury to Rice Plants Caused by Complete Submergence; A Contribution by Ethylerie (Ethene)

Complete submergence of rice plants (Oryza sativa L. cv. ‘IR42’)in dilute nutrient solution for 3–6 d almost stopped theaccumulation of dry matter, depressed soluble carbohydrate concentrationby over 75% and promoted chlorosis in fully expanded leaves.Increase in fresh weight by the shoots was not impaired. Extensionby the youngest visible leaf was stimulated. Extension by thenext leaf to appear was retarded by submergence. These growthresponses to submergence were associated with a 1-5-fold increasein the partial pressure of endogenous ethylene (ethene). Applying ethylene (0.3–0.35 Pa) in the gas-phase to non-submergedplants reproduced some, but not all, of these effects of submergence.Thus, greater leaf extension and chlorosis of submerged plantscould be attributable to accumulated ethylene but neither theslow relative growth rate nor the decreased extension of leavesemerging after the start of submergence could be so attributed. Two cultivars (‘FR13A’ and ‘Kurkaruppan’)already known to tolerate submergence, differed little fromsubmergence-intolerant ‘IR42’ in their relativegrowth rate and soluble carbohydrate concentration during submergence.However, their underwater leaf extension was less than in ‘IR42’and chlorosis was much less prevalent, especially in ‘FR13A’.Similarly, ethylene supplied to non-submerged plants was a lesseffective promotor of leaf extension and chlorosis in the twosubmergence tolerant cultivars. Application of 1.0 kPa carbondioxide in the gas-phase prevented the chlorosis response toethylene. The results indicate that accumulated ethylene is a likely causeof fast leaf extension and chlorosis in submergence intolerantforms of rice, particularly when amounts of dissolved carbondioxide are minimal. Key words: Oryza sativa L., aeration, ethylene (ethene), stress-tolerance     

Mycorrhizal Response of Two Tomato Genotypes Relates to their Ability to Acquire and Utilize Phosphorus

The purpose of this study was to determine how a plant's responseto colonization by mycorrhizal fungi relates to its abilityto acquire and utilize phosphorus for growth and reproduction.Two tomato genotypes previously found to be either responsive(‘LA1709’) or unresponsive (‘large cherry’)to mycorrhizal colonization during early vegetative growth wereexamined in detail. Plants were grown at four levels of addedphosphate or with mycorrhizal inoculum. Vegetative and reproductivegrowth, phosphorus uptake and root length density were measuredduring the course of plant development. Mycorrhizal symbiosissignificantly increased above-ground dry mass, root length,phosphorus content and yield under low phosphorus conditionsin ‘LA1709’, while it had less effect on these characteristicsin ‘large cherry’. When uninfected, however, ‘LA1709’grew and reproduced poorly unless high amounts of phosphoruswere added to the soil, while ‘large cherry’ grewwell under very low phosphorus conditions. This was because‘large cherry’ had significantly higher root lengthdensities than ‘LA1709’, enabling plants from thisgenotype to explore more soil volume and acquire greater amountsof phosphorus when grown without mycorrhizal fungi in low phosphorussoil. ‘Large cherry’ also had higher phosphorususe efficiency and allocated a greater proportion of phosphorusto reproduction when uninfected than ‘LA1709’. Itappears traits that affect a plant's ability to acquire andutilize phosphorus efficiently for growth and reproduction canalso affect its response to mycorrhizal colonization in tomato.Copyright1998 Annals of Botany Company. Tomato,Lycopersicon esculentum,mycorrhiza,Glomus etunicatum,phosphorus, reproduction, lifespan.     

Structural development of the shoot and root systems of two winter wheat cultivars, Triticum aestivum L.

The structural development of the stems and basal anchorageroots of Galahad and Hereward winter wheat cultivars (Triticumaestivum L.) were investigated and related to their mechanicalfunction. Stem and root morphology, anatomy and mechanical propertieswere examined from tillering (March) up to maturity (August),together with plant weight distribution. This allowed us tocalculate a ‘factor of safety’ against root andstem failure throughout development. As the plants grew taller the stem and the anchorage ‘coronalroots’ increased in bending strength countering the increasingmechanical demands. The bending strength, in turn, was correlatedwith the amount of lignified material around the stem and rootperimeter. Structural development ceased by ear emergence, whenthe plant was at its tallest, but because the ear weight continuedto rise the ‘self-weight’ moment pushing the plantover continued to increase. This meant that the ‘safetyfactors’ of both cultivars against both root and stemmechanical failure decreased throughout development. In bothcultivars the safety factors against root failure were lowerthan for stem failure, and Galahad had lower factors of safetythan Hereward. All these findings were consistent with resultsof field trials; failure tends to occur late in development,during grain filling, and is localized to the root system, whilstGalahad is more prone to lodging than Hereward. The pattern of mechanical development of winter wheat seemsto be one which would maximize its reproductive success, maintainingits structural integrity especially early in development whileinvesting in a minimum of structural material. Key words: Safety factor, anchorage, lodging, biomechan-ics, structural development     

Variations in Tiller Dynamics and Morphology in Lolium multiflorum Lam.Vegetative and Reproductive Plants as affected by Differences in Red/Far-Red Irradiation

Lolium multiflorum Lam, plants were grown in a growth room undertwo light sources with red/far-red ratios of 1·62 and0·84 but similar photosynthetically active radiation.In both situations the capacity to produce new tillers and thelight available per tiller decreased with canopy growth. Tilleringwas further reduced by the low red/far-red ratio while lightinterception and plant dry weight were unaffected by this treatment.In both reproductive and vegetative plants under the lower red/far-redratio the time between leaf expansion and the appearance ofa tiller in its axil was increased and the proportion of ‘maturebuds’ that developed was reduced. Irradiation with lowred/far-red advanced the reproductive development and increasedthe number of fertile tillers per plant. It also caused longerleaf sheaths, blades and reproductive shoots. The results suggestthat as canopy density increases the lower light interceptionper tiller and the photomorphogenic effect of low red/far-redratios may reduce the capacity to produce new tillers. Lolium multiflorum, Lam., annual ryegrass, tillering, tiller growth, leaf growth, flowering, light quality.     

The Growth and Carbon Allocation Patterns of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) Plants of Contrasting Branching Structure

The growth, morphology and carbon allocation patterns of F1progeny white clover (Trifolium repens L.) plants selected foreither low (‘LBF’) or high (‘HBF’) frequencyof stolon branching were compared in two controlled-environmentexperiments. Selections from within both a small-leaved (‘GrasslandsTahora’) and a large-leaved (‘Grasslands Kopu’)clover cultivar were compared, and plants were grown under arelatively lenient defoliation treatment (expt 1) or under threelevels of defoliation seventy (expt 2). Carbon allocation patternswere measured by ¹⁴CO₂ pulse-chase labelling using fully unfoldedleaves on the main (parent) stolon. LBF and HBF displayed consistent differences in the selectedcharacter though, within cultivars, the difference between selectionswas most pronounced for Kopu. The selections developed fundamentallydifferent branching structures resulting from differences inbranching frequency, with total branch weight per plant averaging122 mg for LBF and 399 mg for HBF (mean of both experiments).More C moved from parent stolon leaves to branches in HBF thanin LBF (mean 22.6% vs. 15.1% respectively of the ¹⁴C exportedfrom source leaves). More C also moved to stolon tissue in HBF,but, counterbalancing this and the difference in allocationto branches, less moved to developing leaves and roots on theparent stolon itself compared to LBF. However, the total weightof developing leaves and roots per parent stolon was generallygreater in HBF than in LBF, probably reflecting greater C importby these sinks from the higher number of branches present perplant in the former selection. HBF plants were consistentlylarger at harvest than LBF plants. There were no defoliationtreatment x selection interactions in C allocation patternsin expt 2. The implications of the results for plant performancein grazed pastures are discussed. Branching, carbon translocation, defoliation, growth, morphology, Trifolium repens, white clover     

Relative Sensitivity and Tolerance of some Gladiolus Cultivars to Sulphur Dioxide

Five Gladiolus cultivars, namely ‘Aldebaran’, ‘BrightEye’, ‘Illusion’, ‘Manisha’ and‘Manmohan’, were exposed to 1 and 2 µg l^–1sulphur dioxide to test their relative-sensitivity toleranceto the pollutant Plants were fumigated experimentally for 2h daily Foliar injury symptoms were observed first in ‘Manisha’followed by ‘Aldebaran’ and ‘Illusion’at the higher dose Photosynthetic pigments and leaf extractpH were significantly decreased, particularly in ‘Manisha’and ‘Illusion’ Overall disturbances in the plantmetabolism due to SO₂ treatment led to retarded growth of plants,as evident from decreased shoot length and phytomass valuesThe order of sensitivity of the five Gladiolus cultivars toSO₂ was as follows, with the greatest first Manisha, Illusion,Aldebaran, Bright Eye, Manmohan Cultivars, Gladiolus, sensitivity, sulphur dioxide, tolerance     

Mechanism of Bruise Resistance in Pepino (Solanum muricatum) Fruit

Freshly harvested fruit of two cultivars and 16 selections ofthe pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) were given a compressiveloading. Bruise indices, calculated as the product of the resultantbruise length and width, varied significantly among clones.The cultivar ‘Suma’ was most susceptible to bruiseinjury, while selection S15/14 was most resistant. Exocarp cellsand interstitial air-spaces were larger in ‘Suma’than in S15/14. Exocarp cells were compressed, but did not ruptureunder the loading. Mesocarp cells separated from one another,ruptured and collapsed in compressed ‘Suma’ fruit.Mesocarp cells of S15/14 were unaffected by the treatment. Therole of the exocarp in the distribution of mechanical stressis discussed. Pepino, Solanum muricatum Ait, anatomy, bruising, fruit, mechanical stress, plant breeding     

Effect of Cutting on Production and Tillering in Prairie Grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) Compared With Two Ryegrass (Lolium) species. 2. Reproductive Plants

Effects of time of initial cut and subsequent cutting interval(1, 2 or 4 weeks) were examined in a glasshouse during summer1988 for reproductive plants of three prairie grass cultivars(Bromus willdenowii Kunth), Westerwolds ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumLam.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Measurementswere made of tiller and leaf numbers, sites of tillering, reproductivedevelopment, and herbage quality and yields. Effect of timeof initial cutting on regrowth appeared to be independent ofstage of reproductive development and unrelated to any of themeasured plant parameters. Characteristics for each cultivaras identified during undisturbed growth prior to the initialcuts, were modified by the subsequent cutting frequencies. Perennial ryegrass had the highest yields under frequent cuttingwith high herbage quality. Westenwolds ryegrass and the prairiegrass cultivars ‘Grasslands Matua’ and ‘Primabel’had the highest yields with infrequent cutting, but lower herbagequality than in perennial ryegrass. At each cut, tiller deathin prairie grass was determined by the number of reproductivetillers, and in the ryegrasses also by the numbers of elongatedvegetative tillers. Recovery of tiller numbers was rapid andprimarily from inhibited tiller buds at the base of reproductivetillers. In prairie grass, tiller numbers were relatively unaffectedby cutting frequency, but at frequent cutting, many axillarytillers originated from vegetative tillers rather than frominhibited tiller buds at the base of reproductive tillers. Prairie grass, Bromus willdenowii Kunth, Westerwolds ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam., perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., first (initial) cut, cutting frequency, regrowth, leaf appearance, tillering, yield, nitrogen, water-soluble carbohydrates, herbage quality     

Potential Yield in Carrots (Daucus carota L.): Theory, Test, and an Application

There is little published information on the physiological behaviourof carrots at the crop level. Here we derive and test a simplemodel for the potential yield of carrot crops. The model calculatesgreen leaf area index (L) using a daily time step. Dry matterproduction is related linearly to light interception, calculatedfromL and canopy light extinction coefficient (k). Two stagesof growth are distinguished. In stage 1, leaf expansion on eachplant is unaffected by neighbouring plants. Stage 2 commenceswhen L reaches a critical value and the plants start to interact.Compared to stage 1, stage 2 has slower leaf expansion and ak which varies with plant density. Dry matter partitioning betweenshoots and the storage root depends on L. We calibrated themodel for two processing cultivars, ‘Chantenay Red Core’and ‘Red Hot’, using data from a 1997–98 plantdensity experiment in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The model accountedfor 72% of the observed variation in root size and 79% of thevariation in yield. We tested the model against results fromtwo experiments in 1995–96 and 1996–97. In bothexperiments the same two cultivars were sown at three differentsowing times. Overall, the model accounted for 72% of the observedvariation in root size and 66% of the variation in yield, showingthat it is portable to other environments. Finally, we appliedthe model to interpret the effects of sowing date in these twoexperiments. Previous attempts were confounded by variationin plants m^-2with sowing date. The model allowed us to separatethe effects of these factors, and indicated that early sowingsubstantially benefited yield. Copyright 2000 Annals of BotanyCompany Carrot, Daucus carota L., day-degrees, genetic algorithm, growth modelling, plant density, potential yield, thermal time     

The Importance of Light Intensity for Pollen Tube Growth and Embryo Survival in Wheat x Maize Crosses

The success of Triticum aestivumxZea mays crosses, used to producewheat doubled haploids, is influenced by light intensity. Toexamine the basis for this response, pollen tube growth, embryosurvival and indicators of photosynthetic rate were measuredin two wheat cultivars (‘Karamu’ and ‘Kotuku’)crossed with maize at two irradiance levels (250 or 750 µmolm^-2s^-1, PAR). Pollen tube growth was significantly affectedby light intensity in ‘Karamu’ plants but not in‘Kotuku’ plants, despite both cultivars being pollinatedby the same maize source. The percentage of pollen tubes reachingthe cavity between the ovarian wall and integuments, or in themicropyle of ‘Karamu’ plants at high light intensity(65%) was nearly three-times greater than that at low lightintensity (22%). Thus, either low light intensity can affectthe maternal wheat plant in a way that inhibits pollen tubegrowth and/or high light intensity may promote pollen tube growthin ‘Karamu’ plants. Significant differences in ratesof electron transport in plants grown at the two light intensitiesindicated that the rate of photosynthesis may also have an effecton pollen tube growth. These results have importance for improvingthe efficiency of wheat x maize crosses and other wide cerealcrosses. Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Intergeneric hybridization, light intensity, pollen tube growth, embryo survival, Triticum aestivum, wheat,Zea mays , maize     

The Nitrogen Content of Plants and the Self-thinning Rule of Plant Ecology: A Test of the Core-skin Hypothesis

The ‘core-skin’ hypothesis postulates that secondarilythickened plants behave energetically as an inert ‘core’covered by an active ‘skin’, the ‘skin’being two-imensional, the ‘core’ three-dimensional.This would explain the ‘self-thinning ‘or‘–3/2’ rule of plant ecology, that is, the tendencyfor log (dry weight per plant) and log (number of plants perunit area) to progress along a straight line relationship, withslope = – 3/2’. The hypothesis was tested as follows. Plant nitrogen contentwas used as an estimate of the mass of ‘skin’ perplant, and dry weight as an estimate of the mass of the ‘core’.As plants mature the slope of the relationship between y = log(mass of nitrogen per plant) and x = log (mass of dry matterper plant) is expected to decline from an initial value of 1.0towards a final value of 0.66. The intercept of the relationshipis expected to reflect the intrinsic content of ‘skin’per unit of ‘core’. Genotypic variation in thisparameter should cause genotypic differences in the maximumattainable yield of biomass per unit area. The expectations were investigated by fitting the function y= p+qx+r exp – x to 30 sets of data on plant nitrogencontent, plant weight and time in 18 different vegetables. Simplelinear regressions of y on x were fitted to more limited setsof data on weights and nitrogen contents of mature trees. Theexpectations were, with some minor exceptions, confirmed. Nitrogen, yield, plant competition, self-thinning     

Nitrogen Utilization in N-limited Barley During Vegetative and Generative Growth: III. POST-ANTHESIS KINETICS OF NET NITRATE UPTAKE AND THE ROLE OF THE RELATIVE ROOT SIZE IN DETERMINING THE CAPACITY FOR NITRATE ACQUISITION

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cvs Golf, Mette, and Laevigatum)was grown under nitrogen limitation in solution culture untilnear maturity. Three different nitrogen addition regimes wereused: in the ‘HN’ culture the relative rate of nitrate-Naddition (RA) was 0·08 d^–1 until day 48 and thendecreased stepwise to, finally, 0·005 d^–1 duringgrain-filling; the ‘LN’ culture received 45% ofthe nitrogen added in HN; the ‘CN’ culture was maintainedat RA 0·0375 d^–1 throughout. Kinetics of net nitrateuptake were measured during ontogeny at 30 to 150 mmol m^–3external nitrate. V_max (which is argued to reflect the maximuminflux rate in these plants) declined with age in both HN andLN cultures. A pronounced transient drop was observed just beforeanthesis, which correlated in time with a peak in root nitrateconcentration. Similar, but less pronounced, trends were observedin CN. The relative V_max (unit nitrogen taken up per unit nitrogenin plants and day) in all three cultures declined from 1·3–2·3d^–1 during vegetative growth to 0·1–0·7d^–1 during generative growth. These values are in HN andLN cultures 15- to more than 100-fold in excess of the demandset by growth rates throughout ontogeny. Predicted balancingnitrate concentrations (defined as the nitrate concentrationrequired to support the observed rate of growth) were below6·0 mmol m^–3 in HN and LN cultures before anthesisand then decreased during ontogeny. In CN cultures the balancingnitrate concentration increased during grain-filling. Apartfrom the transient decline during anthesis, most of the effectof ageing on relative V_max can be explained in terms of reducedcontribution of roots to total biomass (R:T). The loss in uptakeper unit root weight is largely compensated for by the declinewith time in average tissue nitrogen concentrations. The quantitativerelationships between relative V_max and R:T in ageing plantsare similar to those observed for vegetative plants culturedat different RAs. The data support the contention that the capacity for nitrateacquisition in N-limited plants is under general growth control,rather than controlled by specific regulation of the biochemicalpathway of nitrate assimilation. Key words: Barley, nitrogen concentration, root: total plant biomass ratio, V_max     

Cultivar Differences in the Performance of Bean Seedlings at Suboptimal Temperatures

Growth analysis of plants raised under controlled environments(10–5, 12, 15, 18 and 20 °C, and 21 h photoperiod)was used to examine whether varietal differences in the minimumgermination temperature of four bean cultivars persist duringgrowth at suboptimal temperatures. A method to estimate theminimum vegetative growth temperature, based on axis relativegrowth rate, was developed. In order to compensate for ontogeneticdrift, the harvests were conducted at the same stage of developmentof the plants. Axis relative growth rates, reduction rates ofthe cotyledons and other growth parameters were calculated inorder to compare the cultivars. Cultivar ‘Marschall’showed better growth potential at 12 °C than the others,‘Pergousa‘ at 15 °C, and ‘Marschall’,‘Olsok’ and ‘Pergousa’ at 18 and 20°C. The effect of temperature on axis RGR was similar for‘Marschall’, ‘Olsok’ and ‘Pergousa’(Q₁₀ = 2·1) and more pronounced than for ‘Processor’(Q₁₀ = 1·3). Although there were significant differencesin the growth parameters among the cultivars within each temperatureused, the differences did not correspond with the differencesduring germination at low temperatures. The minimum vegetativegrowth temperature was close to 10 °C for all the cultivarstested. Phaseolus vulgaris L., beans, suboptimum temperature, growth analysis, minimum germination temperature, minimum vegetative growth temperature