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.

Alleviation of salinity stress in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plants by inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)

Abstract: The effects of three bacterial isolates ('Pseudomonas putida', 'P. fluorescens' and 'Bacillus subtilis') of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria were investigated to improve the growth of six cultivars from 'Vicia faba' L. under two levels of salinity stress (S1=4000 and S2=8000 ppm). Different morphological and biochemical parameters were studies. The highest values of final germination percent were observed in cultivar Wadi 1 and Line 1 (96%) in the presence of 'P. fluorescens'. Application of 'P. putida' decreased the mean germination time in the presence or absent salinity stress. The salinity treatments induced a significant decreased in all of plant growth parameters, plant chlorophyll and plant soluable proteins, while plant proline was increased, comparing to control. The plants treated with 'P. fluorescens' showed significant increase in growth traits such as plant length (10.66%), plant shoot fresh weight (9.52%) and plant leaf area (61.86%). This increasing trend was followed by application of 'B. subtilis' then 'P. putida'. The phylogenetic diversity relationship and the level of genetic diversity among the cultivars were assessed using 9 arbitrary primers. The results indicated that 6 out of the 9 primers [(GATA)4GC, (AGAC)4GC, GAC(GATA)4, (AC)8YC, CGC(GATA)4 and (AG)8YC] can generate clear multiplex banding profiles. Among the 48 polymorphism bands, only 14 were found to be useful as positive or negative markers related to salt stress. The cluster analysis classified the cultivars into two main groups. The inter-simple sequence repeat can be used to identify alleles associated with the salt stress in faba bean germplasm.

Edaphic factors and plant-insect interactions: direct and indirect effects of serpentine soil on florivores and pollinators.

Abstract: Edaphic factors can lead to differences in plant morphology and tissue chemistry. However, whether these differences result in altered plant–insect interactions for soil-generalist plants is less understood. We present evidence that soil chemistry can alter plant–insect interactions both directly, through chemical composition of plant tissue, and indirectly, through plant morphology, for serpentine-tolerant Mimulus guttatus (Phrymaceae). First, we scored floral display (corolla width, number of open flowers per inflorescence, and inflorescence height), flower chemistry, pollinator visitation and florivory of M. guttatus growing on natural serpentine and non-serpentine soil over 2 years. Second, we conducted a common garden reciprocal soil transplant experiment to isolate the effect of serpentine soil on floral display traits and flower chemistry. And last, we observed arrays of field-collected inflorescences and potted plants to determine the effect of soil environment in the field on pollinator visitation and florivore damage, respectively. For both natural and experimental plants, serpentine soil caused reductions in floral display and directly altered flower tissue chemistry. Plants in natural serpentine populations received fewer pollinator visits and less damage by florivores relative to non-serpentine plants. In experimental arrays, soil environment did not influence pollinator visitation (though larger flowers were visited more frequently), but did alter florivore damage, with serpentine-grown plants receiving less damage. Our results demonstrate that the soil environment can directly and indirectly affect plant–mutualist and plant–antagonist interactions of serpentine-tolerant plants by altering flower chemistry and floral display.

Response of morphological and physiological growth attributes to foliar application of plant growth regulators in gladiolus 'white prosperity'.

Abstract: Gladiolus is very popular among ornamental bulbous plants mainly used as cut flower and greatly demanded in the world floral market. Production of inferior quality spikes is one of the major hurdles for their export. The research was conducted under Faisalabad conditions to evaluate the use of plant growth regulators in order to improve the vegetative, floral and physiological attributes. Gladiolus plants were sprayed thrice with different concentrations (0.1, 0.4, 0.7 and 1mM) of gibberellic acid, benzylaminopurine and salicylic acid at three leaf stage, five leaf stage and slipping stage. Foliar application of 1mM gibberellic acid increased the plant height (122.14cm), spike length (58.41cm), florets spike -1 (13.49), corm diameter (4.43cm), corm weight (25.34g) and total cormel weight (20.45g) compared to benzylaminopurine and salicylic acid. Gibberellic acid at 1mM concentration also increased the total chlorophyll content to 7.72mg/g, total carotenoids (1.61mg/g), total soluble sugars (3.68mg/g) followed by application of benzylaminopurine. Salicylic acid application at 1mM concentration decreased the number of days to flower (64.93) compared to 76.12 days in non treated plants.