Ecological Differentiation Between Species of Scribbly Gums [Eucalyptus Informal Subseries Haemastominae (MATK) Prior & Johnson] and Angophora in Seedling Responsiveness to Mineral Nutrients

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mowatt ◽  
PJ Myerscough

When four species of scribbly gums (Eucalyptus subseries Haemastominae) and four species of Angophora, together with Eucalyptus pilularis, were grown in a range of nutrient levels from distilled water to full Hoagland's nutrient solution, the two groups reacted differently, reflecting their contrasting distributions in relation to soil fertility. Their mean relative growth rates were similar, but the magnitude of the response to increasing nutrient availability varied among the angophoras although it was very similar for all the scribblies. The degree of response of the angophoras was correlated with the fertility of their natural soils: A. floribunda, coming from the most fertile soils, showed the greatest response in mean relative growth rate to increasing nutrient supply. Specific leaf areas did not vary among nutrient levels but, as with mean relative growth rates, the angophoras showed a correlation between the fertility of their natural soils and the specific leaf area: A. hispida, from the least fertile soils, developed the thickest leaves. The angophoras differed from each other in leaf area ratio whereas the scribblies did not. This characteristic was influenced by nutrient availability: the angophoras growing at the higher levels of nutrient supply developed greater leaf areas ratios. There was little difference among the four scribbly gum species in their response to nutrients. They all occur on infertile soils and showed little response to increased nutrient supply.


1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Eagling ◽  
RJ Sward ◽  
GM Halloran

Measurements were made on the effect of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infection on the early growth of four commercial cultivars of ryegrass (Lolium spp.) under two different temperatures (24�C and 16�C). At 24'C, BYDV infection was associated with reduced root dry weight (30-40%) in all cultivars; the effect of infection on shoot dry weight and leaf area was variable. At 16�C, the effect of BYDV infection was variable, being associated with increases in root dry weight, shoot dry weight, and leaf area in one cultivar (Grasslands Ariki) and decreases in another (Victorian). In two other cultivars, root dry weight, shoot dry weight and leaf area were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by infection with BYDV.At 24�C, the reductions in root dry weight associated with BYDV infection were not concomitant with reductions in the root relative growth rates. Up to at least 28 days after inoculation (46-50 days after germination) reductions in root dry weight were associated with both aphid-feeding damage and virus infection. Experiments with the cultivar Victorian, showed that shoot dry weight was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by feeding with viruliferous (BYDV) or non-viruliferous aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi L.). At 16�C, changes in root and shoot dry weight were associated with changes in the root and shoot relative growth rates.



HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana L. Baumann ◽  
Beth Ann Workmaster ◽  
Kevin R. Kosola

Wisconsin cranberry growers report that fruit production by the cranberry cultivar `Ben Lear' (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is low in beds with poor drainage, while the cultivar `Stevens' is less sensitive to these conditions. We hypothesized that `Ben Lear' and `Stevens' would differ in their root growth and mortality response to variation in soil water potential. Rooted cuttings of each cultivar were grown in a green-house in sand-filled pots with three different soil water potentials which were regulated by a hanging water column below a fritted ceramic plate. A minirhizotron camera was used to record root growth and mortality weekly for five weeks. Root mortality was negligible (2% to 6%). Whole plant relative growth rates were greatest for both cultivars under the wettest conditions. Rooting depth was shallowest under the wettest conditions. Whole-plant relative growth rates of `Ben Lear' were higher than `Stevens' at all soil water potentials. `Stevens' plants had significantly higher root to shoot ratios and lower leaf area ratios than `Ben Lear' plants, and produced more total root length than `Ben Lear' at all soil water potentials. Shallow rooting, high leaf area ratio, and low allocation to root production by `Ben Lear' plants may lead to greater susceptibility to drought stress than `Stevens' plants in poorly drained cranberry beds.



1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. C. Cornelissen

Interactive effects of season and light environment on tree seedling growth were studied in four evergreen species in the humid subtropics of China. These species were the needle-leaved pioneer Pinus massoniana and the broad-leaved shade-tolerant Castanopsis fargesii, Sloanea leptocarpa, and Elaeocarpus japonicus. The experimental outdoor light environments, which broadly simulated those in forest gaps and clearings, were 100, 55, 33, and 18% of incident light quantity. Mean relative growth rates for both total leaf area and s tem height revealed interaction of season and light environment in Pinus, Castanopsis, and Elaeocarpus. In these species, mean relative growth rates were higher in summer in more shaded environments and in autumn in more exposed environments, but this shift was not as clear in Castanopsis. Winter growth was virtually nil in all species, although Pinus still achieved some winter stem height change. The hypothesis that late-successional rather than early-successional species would demonstrate interactions of season and light environment on growth and development was not sufficiently supported by the data. Variation in mean relative growth rates for total leaf area was due to changes in whole-plant average leaf size as well as leaf numbers. In Sloanea and Elaeocarpus seedlings in high light environments, reduced leaf size and enhanced leaf abscission rates gave rise to negative mean relative growth rates for total leaf area. The more sun-tolerant Castanopsis seedlings revealed no such leaf size response and shed few, if any, leaves in any of the light environments. These results indicate that seasonal variability in the growth response of tree seedlings to the light environment is an important factor to be taken into account in studies on gap dynamics of subtropical forests. Keywords: China, leaf area, leaf turnover, leaf size, mean relative growth rate, shade, subtropical, sun.



1978 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Patterson ◽  
Charles R. Meyer ◽  
Paul C. Quimby


Crop Science ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Nevado ◽  
H. Z. Cross


1979 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mudd ◽  
G. L. Bateman

AbstractGrowth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) on extracts of plants selected by the ants was shown to be affected by the plant species, the pH of the extract, the concentration of the sap or plant extract and pretreatment of the substrate by the ants. It was not possible to establish an unambiguous relationship between the rate of growth of the fungus on leaf extracts and the foraging preferences of the ants for the leaves. There were indications, however, that the fungus grows most rapidly on extracts of plant material preferred by A. cephalotes. Relative growth rates of the fungus on different substrates may be related to the presence of growth inhibitors rather than to nutrient availability.



1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1556-1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thimmappa S. Anekonda ◽  
Richard S. Criddle ◽  
Lee D. Hansen ◽  
Mike Bacca

Seventeen Eucalyptus species and 30 rapid-growing Eucalyptuscamaldulensis trees (referred to as plus trees), growing in a plantation were studied to examine relationships among measured plant growth and respiratory parameters, geographical origins, and growth climate. The respiratory parameters measured at two different temperatures by isothermal calorimetry were metabolic heat rate, rate of CO2 production, and the ratio of heat rate to CO2 rate. Metabolic heat rate was also measured as a continuous function of temperature by differential scanning calorimetry in the range of 10 to 40 °C. Tree growth was measured as rates of height and stem volume growth. The values of respiratory and growth variables of Eucalyptus species are significantly correlated with latitude and altitude of origin of their seed sources. The maximum metabolic heat rate, the temperature of the maximum heat rate, the temperature coefficients of metabolic rate, and the temperatures at which the slopes of Arrhenius plots change are all genetically determined parameters that vary both within and among species. Measurement of growth rate–respiration rate–temperature relationships guide understanding of why relative growth rates of Eucalyptus species and individual genotypes differ with climate, making it possible to identify genotypes best suited for rapid growth in different climates. The temperature dependence of respiration rates is an important factor determining relative growth rates of eucalypts in different climates. To achieve optimum biomass production the temperature dependence of individual plants must be matched to growth climate.



1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Jackson

Growth analysis of cotton crops sown in the Sudan Gezira at monthly intervals between August and May revealed a marked seasonal pattern of growth. Irrespective of plant age and fruiting state growth of non-senescent plants was slowest during the cool winter months. Relative growth rates of young plants were highest in August, September and early October due to the high specific leaf areas and fairly high net assimilation rates found then. They were lowest when minimum temperatures were lowest. Net assimilation rates were also lowest in the coolest months, probably as a result of restricted growth. High temperatures in the spring reduced fruiting. It is concluded that low minimum temperatures and high evaporation rates are both associated with slow growth, and play a large part in determining the characteristic decline of growth rates of cotton sown at the usual date in August.I wish to thank the Chief of the Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Sudan, for permission to publish this paper and to record my gratitude to the team of field and laboratory assistants, especially Salih Saad and Hassan Osman, who helped in the work.





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