scholarly journals Tolerance of Swallowworts (Vincetoxicum spp.) to Multiple Years of Artificial Defoliation and Clipping

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey R. Milbrath ◽  
Antonio DiTommaso ◽  
Jeromy Biazzo ◽  
Scott H. Morris
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Defoliation Treatment ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

AbstractThe European vines pale swallowwort and black swallowwort are invading various habitats in northeastern North America. It is unclear how these plants might respond to potential biological control agents, as they experience little herbivore damage in North America, or longer durations of mowing given the reported lack of efficacy of mechanical control. We evaluated the effect of six seasons of artificial defoliation (50 or 100% defoliation once or twice per season) and clipping (once, twice, or four times at 8 cm above the soil level) on the survival, growth, and reproduction of mature plants of the two species grown in a common garden field experiment. No plants died from damage after 6 yr. Black swallowwort produced more aboveground biomass, whereas pale swallowwort produced more root biomass and root crown buds, compared with its congener species. For most damage treatments, root biomass and the number of crown buds and stems increased over time, whereas aboveground biomass and viable seeds per plant generally did not change. Substantial overlap in plant size and seed production occurred among damage treatments and species. The most severe defoliation treatment did not substantially limit growth and reproduction compared with undamaged plants. While two clippings per season sometimes prevented seed production, four clippings per season was the only type of damage that consistently prevented plant growth and eliminated seed production. Pale and black swallowwort display a high tolerance to aboveground tissue loss in high-light environments without plant competition. The annual increase in plant size calls into question the potential efficacy of a defoliating insect against field populations of swallowworts, and it seems likely the only benefits of a long-term mowing regime will be to eliminate seed production.

Growth and Reproduction of Benghal Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) in Response to Drought Stress

Weed Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore M. Webster ◽  
Timothy L. Grey
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Moisture Regimes ◽  
Benghal Dayflower ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate growth and reproduction of Benghal dayflower in response to daily (nondrought stress) and weekly (drought stress) irrigation. With daily irrigation, Benghal dayflower plants added one leaf per plant each week during the initial 6 wk of growth and then increased leaf number eightfold between the intervals of 6 and 10 wk after planting (WAP) and 10 and 15 WAP. By 15 WAP each plant had in excess of 400 leaves. Benghal dayflower plant height increased 2.4 cm wk−1 between 5 and 14 WAP, increasing eightfold during this interval, while plant width increased 20-fold. Aerial spathe formation began between 7 and 8 WAP, with 26 spathes maturing (containing seeds ready for dispersal) each week beginning at 11 WAP. In another study, the influence of duration of drought stress at intervals between 7 and 56 d on early growth and development of cotton and Benghal dayflower was evaluated. Benghal dayflower aboveground biomass was 3.5 times greater than cotton. There was an inverse linear relationship between aboveground biomass and duration of drought stress for cotton and Benghal dayflower, though there was a more rapid decline for Benghal dayflower. A final study evaluated Benghal dayflower response to weekly moisture regimes that approximated 13, 25, 50, and 100% of soil field capacity. Benghal dayflower aerial spathes were 4.6 times more numerous than subterranean spathes. Rate of seed production decreased in a linear manner with decreasing water volume, however, rate of subterranean seed production was less affected by water volume than was aerial seed production. These data indicate that Benghal dayflower thrives under high soil moisture regimes, but that drought stress inhibits growth and reproduction. Cotton appears to be more drought tolerant than Benghal dayflower. Judicious water use in cotton cropping systems in the southeastern United States could be an important component of multiple-tactic Benghal dayflower management program.

Sex ratio and life history traits at reaching sexual maturity in the dioecious shrub Fuchsia parviflora: field and common garden experiments

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jessica S. Ambriz ◽  
Clementina González ◽  
Eduardo Cuevas
Keyword(s):  
Natural Population ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Common Garden Experiment ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Reproductive Biomass ◽  
Common Garden Experiments ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Abstract Fuchsia parviflora is a dioecious shrub that depends on biotic pollination for reproduction. Previous studies suggest that the male plants produce more flowers, and male-biased sex ratios have been found in some natural populations. To assess whether the biased sex ratios found between genders in natural populations are present at the point at which plants reach sexual maturity, and to identify possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction, we performed a common garden experiment. Finally, to complement the information of the common garden experiment, we estimated the reproductive biomass allocation between genders in one natural population. Sex ratios at reaching sexual maturity in F. parviflora did not differ from 0.5, except in one population, which was the smallest seedling population. We found no differences between genders in terms of the probability of germination or flowering. When flowering began, female plants were taller than males and the tallest plants of both genders required more time to reach sexual maturity. Males produced significantly more flowers than females, and the number of flowers increased with plant height in both genders. Finally, in the natural population studied, the investment in reproductive biomass was seven-fold greater in female plants than in male plants. Our results showed no evidence of possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction. Despite the fact that female plants invest more in reproductive biomass, they were taller than the males after flowering, possibly at the expense of herbivory defence.

scholarly journals Effects on Crop Development, Yields and Chemical Composition of Celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum) Cultivated Underneath an Agrivoltaic System

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 733
Author(s):  
Axel Weselek ◽  
Andrea Bauerle ◽  
Sabine Zikeli ◽  
Iris Lewandowski ◽  
Petra Högy
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Apium Graveolens ◽  
Land Productivity ◽  
Common Root ◽  
Crop Development ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Organically Managed

Agrivoltaic (AV) systems increase land productivity through the combined production of renewable energy and food. Although several studies have addressed their impact on crop production, many aspects remain unexplored. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AV on the cultivation of celeriac, a common root vegetable in Central Europe. Celeriac was cultivated in 2017 and 2018 as part of an organically managed on-farm experiment, both underneath an AV system and in full-sun conditions. Under AV, photosynthetic active radiation was reduced by about 30%. Monitoring of crop development showed that in both years, plant height increased significantly under AV. Fresh bulb yield decreased by about 19% in 2017 and increased by about 12% in 2018 in AV, but the changes were not significant. Aboveground biomass increased in both years under AV, but only increased significantly in 2018. As aboveground biomass is a determinant of root biomass at harvest in root vegetables, bulb yields may be further increased by a prolonged vegetation period under AV. Compound analysis of celeriac bulbs did not show any clear effects from treatment. As harvestable yields were not significantly reduced, we concluded that celeriac can be considered a suitable crop for cultivation under AV.

scholarly journals Quantifying seed production by volunteer canola (Brassica napus) and Sinapis arvensis

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-497
Author(s):  
E Soltani ◽  
A Soltani ◽  
S Galeshi ◽  
F Ghaderi-far ◽  
E Zeinali
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Napus ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Sinapis Arvensis ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Sowing Dates ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Close Relationship

Volunteer canola (Brassica napus) and Sinapis arvensis are well identified weeds of different cropping systems. Quantitative information on regarding seed production by them is limited. Such information is necessary to model dynamics of soil seed banks. The aim of this work was to quantify seed production as a function of the size of those weeds. A wide range of plant size was produced by using a fan seeding system performed at two sowing dates (environments). Plant size varied from 3 to 167 g per plant for canola and from 6 to 104 g per plant for S. arvensis. Seed production ranged from 543 to14,773 seeds per plant for canola, and from 264 to 10,336 seeds per plant for S. arvensis. There was a close relationship between seed production per plant and plant size which was well-described by a power function (y = 130.6x0.94; R² = 0.93 for canola and y = 28x1.27; R² = 0.95 for S. arvensis). There was also strong relationships among the number of pods produced in individual plants and the quantity of seeds produced (g per plant) with the size of the plant. The relationships found in this study can be used in dynamic seed bank models of volunteer canola and S. arvensis.

scholarly journals Effect of nitrogen on the distribution of biomass and element composition of the root system of miscanthus × giganteus

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 547-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeljko Dzeletovic ◽  
Djordje Glamoclija
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Element Composition ◽  
Simple Experiment ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus ◽  
Dry Biomass ◽  
Macro And Micronutrients ◽  
Mn Concentrations

Perennial bioenergy grass crops, despite a relatively similar production of aboveground biomass, show significant differences in the overall root biomass. Rhizomes play a key role in economizing nutrients in miscanthus. The aim of this research was to establish the effect of N (nitrogen) on the distribution of biomass and concentration of major macro- and micronutrients in the miscanthus root system, using simple experiment in pots. After two years of growth, the rhizomes and roots were taken out of the pots, cleaned of earth and analyzed. About 2/3 of the mass of the miscanthus root system consist of rhizome mass. The overall dry biomass of newly formed rhizomes and roots is decreased with the increase in the amount of applied N fertilization. Thereby, the N concentration in the entire root system, as well as in some of its parts, increased with the rise in applied amount of N. Our results show that increasing amounts of applied N consistently negatively correlate with P concentrations in the miscanthus root system, in contrast to Mn concentrations, with which they correlate positively.

scholarly journals Light and propagule pressure affect invasion intensity of Prunus serotina in a 14-tree species forest common garden experiment

NeoBiota ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej M. Jagodziński ◽  
Marcin K. Dyderski ◽  
Paweł Horodecki ◽  
Kathleen S. Knight ◽  
Katarzyna Rawlik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Propagule Pressure ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Common Garden Experiment ◽  
Tree Stand ◽  
Biomass Increment ◽  
The Impact

Experiments testing multiple factors that affect the rate of invasions in forests are scarce. We aimed to assess how the biomass of invasive Prunusserotina changed over eight years and how this change was affected by light availability, tree stand growth, and propagule pressure. The study was conducted in Siemianice Experimental Forest (W Poland), a common garden forest experiment with 14 tree species. We investigated aboveground biomass and density of P.serotina within 53 experimental plots with initial measurements in 2005 and repeated in 2013. We also measured light availability and distance from seed sources. We used generalized additive models to assess the impact of particular predictors on P.serotina biomass in 2013 and its relative change over eight years. The relative biomass increments of P.serotina ranged from 0 to 22,000-fold. The success of P.serotina, expressed as aboveground biomass and biomass increment, varied among different tree species stands, but was greater under conifers. Total biomass of P.serotina depended on light and propagule availability while biomass increment depended on the change in tree stand biomass, a metric corresponding to tree stand maturation. Our study quantified the range of invasion intensity, expressed as biomass increment, in a forest common garden experiment with 14 tree species. Canopy cover was the most important variable to reduce susceptibility to invasion by P.serotina. Even a modest decrease of overstory biomass, e.g. caused by dieback of coniferous species, may be risky in areas with high propagule pressure from invasive tree species. Thus, P.serotina control may include maintaining high canopy closure and supporting natural regeneration of tree species with high leaf area index, which shade the understory.

Growth, seed production and effect of defoliation in an early flowering perennial grass, Alloteropsis semialata (Poaceae), on Cape York Peninsula, Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel M. Crowley ◽  
Stephen T. Garnett
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Cape York ◽  
Seed Dynamics

Alloteropsis semialata (R.Br.) A.Hitchc. is one of the first perennial grasses in monsoonal Australia to produce seed at the start of the wet season. Patterns of growth and seed production and seed dynamics of Alloteropsis semialata were examined in this study, along with the effects of partial defoliation. Growth of Alloteropsis semialata tussocks started with the first pre-wet-season rains, and was then interrupted during a period with little rain. Growth ceased before the end of the wet season, indicating that factors other than moisture availability were limiting. Seeds of Alloteropsis semialata were germinable on production, but did not remain viable or persist on the soil surface through the dry season. Most seeds and young seedlings were harvested and no seedlings were recruited. Inflorescence production increased with plant size. Moderate defoliation in the early wet season had no impact on plant growth, but reduced inflorescence and seed production for at least 2 years. Absence of a seed bank and early wet-season flowering mean that Alloteropsis semialata is likely to be sensitive to long-term over-grazing.

INCREASED PLANT SIZE IN EXOTIC POPULATIONS: A COMMON-GARDEN TEST WITH 14 INVASIVE SPECIES

Ecology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 2758-2765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana M. Blumenthal ◽  
Ruth A. Hufbauer
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Plant Size

Seed production in Cardiocrium cordatum: effects of nitrogen and dry mass availability of a plant

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 805-812
Author(s):  
Satoki Sakai ◽  
Akiko Sakai ◽  
Kohta Fujioka
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
N Content ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Number Of Seeds

To clarify how seed production depends on the relative N and dry mass availability, we examined the number and size of seeds, and the loss of dry mass in Cardiocrium cordatum (Thunb.) Makaino plants that differed naturally in overall size and stem N content. After adjusting for plant size (basal stem diameter was used as a criterion of plant size), the amount of dry mass lost because of respiration in a plant decreased with an increase in the stem N content of the plant, whereas the total dry mass of seeds of a plant increased with an increase in the stem N content. Plants with a high stem N content relative to dry mass status used dry mass resources more efficiently in seed production by reducing the loss of dry mass. Plants with a higher stem N content produced a greater number of seeds, and the amount of dry mass lost decreased with an increase in the number of seeds of the plant, possibly because the resources allocated to seed production are consumed rapidly, if numerous seeds simultaneously absorb those resources. However, the stem N content of a plant had no influence on the mean seed dry mass, seed N content, and the seed N concentration, and the latter three parameters did not affect respiration loss of dry mass. We concluded that plants undergoing seed production reduce dry mass loss if their relative N to dry mass availability is high, through an increase in the numbers of seeds they produce.

Seed production in Brachiaria decumbens and Paspalum plicatulum as influenced by system of residue disposal

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 869
Author(s):  
WW Stnr ◽  
LR Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Supply ◽  
Floral Initiation ◽  
Spikelet Number ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Short Day ◽  
Cotton South ◽  
Defoliation Treatment

Long-established swards of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk and of Paspalum plicatulum cv. Rodds Bay at Mt Cotton, south-east Queensland, were cut, field dried and burnt, or cut and the residues removed in late November or early January. Burning initially reduced tillering, especially when the interval between cutting and burning was 7 days, but this difference disappeared in P. plicatulum when there was a long interval to floral initiation. A juvenility requirement was evident in the short day P. plicatulum swards, where late burning or cutting delayed floral initiation 11 days relative to early defoliation. Strong compensatory and hierarchical effects on the components of seed yield occurred, and seed yield was similar in cut or burnt treatments, except for 23% decrease in late cut P. plicatulum. Late defoliated B. decumbens yielded 31% more seed than early defoliated swards, due mainly to reduced spikelet number per raceme (branch). Burning slightly increased synchrony of inflorescence exsertion in P. plicatulum and reduced crop lodging, although in a subordinate experiment with P. plicatulum lodging was positively related to level of nitrogen supply rather than to defoliation treatment.

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