Plant morphology

About: Plant morphology is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1174 publications have been published within this topic receiving 24418 citations. The topic is also known as: phytomorphology & morphology of higher plants.

Plant morphology and root hydraulics are altered by nutrient deficiency in Pistacia lentiscus (L.)

Abstract: The plants in arid and semiarid areas are often limited by water and nutrients. Morpho-functional adjustments to improve nutrient capture may have important implications on plant water balance, and on plant capacity to withstand drought. Several studies have shown that N and P deficiencies may decrease plant hydraulic conductance. Surprisingly, studies on the implications of nutrient limitations on water use in xerophytes are scarce. We have evaluated the effects of strong reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus availability on morphological traits and hydraulic conductance in seedlings of a common Mediterranean shrub, Pistacia lentiscus L.. Nitrogen deficiency resulted in a decrease in aboveground biomass accumulation, but it did not affect belowground biomass accumulation or root morphology. Phosphorus-deficient plants showed a decrease in leaf area, but no changes in aboveground biomass. Root length, root surface area, and specific root length were higher in phosphorus-deficient plants than in control plants. Nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency reduced both root hydraulic conductance and root hydraulic conductance scaled by total root surface area. On the other hand, nutrient limitations did not significantly affect root conductance per unit of foliar surface area. Thus, adaptation to low nutrient availability did not affect seedling capacity for maintaining water supply to leaves. The implications for drought resistance and survival during seedling establishment in semi-arid environments are discussed.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. «Better Bush») plant response to root restriction. I, Alteration of plant morphology

Abstract: Our earlier observations ot root-restricted tomato plants indicated that alterations in plant morphology occurred lrom day 18 to 32 of a 46 d culture period. Here, root-respiration capacity and root-ethylene production were measured to determine if these parameters were correlated with the observed changes in plant morphology. Plants were cultured in a flow-through hydroponic system. Roots in large containers (1500 cm3, control), exhibited a gradual decline in respiration capacities, from 9009 to 2147 mm3 02 g 1 (DW) h-1. A significant decline in respiration capacity was observed for roots grown in small containers (25 cm3, root-restriction treatment) after 18 d in culture. Once treated root systems attained a maximum weight (c. 1-59 g DW), their respiration capacity remained relatively constant (c. 1212 mm3 02 g ~ 1 (DW) h_1). The observed change in root respiration, for the restricted plants, was closely correlated with alterations in root : shoot ratio. We conclude that the decline in root respiration capacity represents a significant indicator of reduced root metabolism. Thus, root energetics plays a role that influences the growth habit of root-restricted plants. Slight increases in ethylene production were observed for treated roots on days 22, 25 and 30. This increase in production appeared at a time when adventitious rooting was initiated. Overall, control and treated roots produced ethylene within a range of 6-1 to 10-2 mm3 kg-1 (FW) h"1. Preliminary sampling of leaf tissues suggests that ethylene production rates did not differ for mature leaves of the two plant groups.

Plant Density and Nitrogen Effects on Maize Phenology and Grain Yield

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) and plant density are considered some of the most important factors affecting crop phenology (days to tasseling, silking, and maturity), morphology (leaves plant−1, seeds ear−1, ears 100 plants−1) and grain yield. The effects of plant density and N on phenology, morphology, and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) at Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan were evaluated during 2002 to 2004. The 2 × 3 × 6 factorial experiment was designed having two plant densities (60,000 and 100,000 plants ha−1) and three N levels (60, 120, and 180 kg N ha−1) applied to main plots, while six split application of N in different proportions were applied to subplots in two equal, three equal, three unequal, four equal, five equal and five unequal splits at sowing and with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th irrigation at two week intervals. All the phenological characteristics were significantly affected by year, plant density, rate and timing of nitrogen application. Year and plant density had no significant effect while rates...