Plant Growth-Responses to Touch: Literally a 'Hands-on' Exercise!

1991 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-114
Author(s):  
Marian Smith
Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 370
Author(s):  
Murugesan Chandrasekaran

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts of higher plants which increase the growth and nutrient uptake of host plants. The primary objective was initiated based on analyzing the enormity of optimal effects upon AMF inoculation in a comparative bias between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants stipulated on plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Consequently, in accomplishing the above-mentioned objective a vast literature was collected, analyzed, and evaluated to establish a weighted meta-analysis irrespective of AMF species, plant species, family and functional group, and experimental conditions in the context of beneficial effects of AMF. I found a significant increase in the shoot, root, and total biomass by 36.3%, 28.5%, and, 29.7%, respectively. Moreover, mycorrhizal plants significantly increased phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium uptake by 36.3%, 22.1%, and 18.5%, respectively. Affirmatively upon cross-verification studies, plant growth parameters intensification was accredited to AMF (Rhizophagus fasciculatus followed by Funniliforme mosseae), plants (Triticum aestivum followed by Solanum lycopersicum), and plant functional groups (dicot, herbs, and perennial) were the additional vital important significant predictor variables of plant growth responses. Therefore, the meta-analysis concluded that the emancipated prominent root characteristics, increased morphological traits that eventually help the host plants for efficient phosphorus uptake, thereby enhancing plant biomass. The present analysis can be rationalized for any plant stress and assessment of any microbial agent that contributes to plant growth promotion.


2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Teng ◽  
Lei Ba ◽  
Deli Wang ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Jushan Liu

Many studies indicated that saliva from herbivores might be involved in plant growth responses when plants have been grazed. However, there is currently no general agreement on whether saliva can affect plant growth. Our aims were to determine the growth response of plants to sheep saliva after defoliation under diverse environmental conditions (different sward structures), and whether the effect of saliva is influenced by time (duration) after its application. We conducted field experiments with clipping treatments and the application of sheep saliva to the damaged parts of tillers to simulate sheep grazing on the perennial grass Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev during the early growing seasons. Results demonstrated that clipping with saliva application significantly increased tiller numbers 8 weeks after treatments in comparison with clipping alone. A key finding is that the effect of sheep saliva on plant growth was short-lived. Clipping with saliva application increased leaf weight in the second week, while clipping alone had no effect. Moreover, clipping with saliva application promoted the elongation of new leaves (not the old ones) in the first week whereas clipping alone was ineffective. Results also showed that there were no differences between clipping with saliva application and clipping alone for relative height growth rate and aboveground biomass. Therefore, we concluded that saliva application to clipping treatment would produce an additional effect compared to clipping alone for the plant and the positive effects are time dependent. The additional effects primarily embodied in the individual level of plant, such as the changes of leaf weight and leaf length. Beyond the level, the effects of saliva only produced many more tiller numbers rather than the accumulation of aboveground biomass.


Author(s):  
R. P. Mericle ◽  
L. W. Mericle ◽  
A. E. Smith ◽  
W. F. Campbell ◽  
D. J. Montgomery

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (20) ◽  
pp. 2200-2205 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Asimi ◽  
V. Gianinazzi-Pearson ◽  
S. Gianinazzi

Growth and yield increases, obtained in nodulated soybeans growing in unamended sterile soil by inoculation with the vesicular–arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae, were accompanied by improved P uptake, lower root to shoot ratios, better nodulation with higher nitrogenase activity, and modifications in the pattern of the latter during plant growth. Stimulation of nitrogenase activity occurred early in plant development and preceded plant growth responses by about 2 weeks. Phosphate fertilization increased yield, percent P but not percent N of both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal soybeans, and also modified the pattern and amount of nitrogenase activity during plant growth. Additions of 0.25 g KH2PO4/kg to the soil eliminated the mycorrhizal effect on plant growth, but nodule formation and nitrogenase activity were still significantly stimulated by the mycorrhizal infection. Mycorrhizal effects on nodulation were eliminated with 0.5 g KH2PO4 and on nitrogenase activity with the addition of 1.0 g KH2PO4. These higher levels of phosphate fertilization considerably diminished infection and, in particular, fungal spread within the roots.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-88
Author(s):  
Alexandre Igor A Pereira ◽  
João de Jesus Guimarães ◽  
João Victor Costa ◽  
Fernando S de Cantuário ◽  
Leandro C Salomão ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Water stress compromises plant growth. Resistance inducers, such as potassium silicate (K2SiO3), can reduce negative effects of this stress on Solanaceae, Capsicum annuum. Plant height, stem diameter and leaf area may indicate the efficiency of potassium silicate foliarsprayagainst water stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth of sweet pepper plants under water stress and K2SiO3 doses. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme in space. The treatments consisted of four soil water stresses: 15 kPa (field capacity), 25 (intermediate value), 35 and 45 kPa (water stress) and three doses of potassium silicate (0, 0.4 and 0.8 L 100 L-1 water), acting as resistance inducers to water stress. The resistance inducer maintained greater heights of the sweet pepper plants, under water stress (35 and 45 kPa) at the initial stage [(20 days after transplanting (DAT)]. Smaller plant diameters were observed at 80 and 100 DAT at 35 and 45 kPa. Sprays using K2SiO3 maintained sweet pepper leaf area with higher values, even under stress condition. The soil water tension from 35 kPa limited, in general, the plant growth. Growth responses in Capsicum annuum to K2SiO3, via foliar spraying, varied according to plant age, as well as the growth parameter considered in this experiment.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (54) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK Teitzel ◽  
RC Bruce

Results of thirteen investigations into the fertility status of fifteen basaltic soils in the wet tropical coast of Queensland are presented. Although farming experience has shown these soils to be among the most fertile in the area, a widespread phosphorus deficiency is recorded. Plant growth responses to molybdenum, sulphur and calcium also occurred. The molybdenum deficiency appears to be particularly important in older , pastures where the initailly high soil nitrogen status has been depleted.


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Shishido ◽  
Christopher P Chanway

Seeds of two hybrid spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) ecotypes were inoculated with one of six plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains previously shown to be able to stimulate spruce growth in controlled environments. The resulting seedlings were grown in the greenhouse for 17 weeks before outplanting at four reforestation sites. Inoculation with five of the six strains caused significant seedling growth promotion in the greenhouse, which necessitated analysis of relative growth rates (RGR) to evaluate seedling performance in the field. Four months after outplanting, most strains enhanced spruce shoot or root RGRs in the field, but seedling growth responses were strain specific. For example, Pseudomonas strain Ss2-RN significantly increased both shoot and root RGRs by 10-234% at all sites, but increases of 28-70% were most common. In contrast, Bacillus strain S20-R was ineffective at all outplanting sites. In addition, seedlings inoculated with four of the six strains had significantly less shoot injury than control seedlings at all sites. Evaluation of root colonization by PGPR indicated that bacterial population declines were not related to spruce growth response variability in the field. Our results indicate that once plant growth promotion is induced in the greenhouse, seedling RGR can increase by more than 100% during the first growing season in the field. However RGR increases of 21-47% were more common and may be more representative of the magnitude of biomass increases that can result from PGPR inoculation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document