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.

Responses of cultivars of canola to sulfur fertilizer and plant densities under climatic condition of Gorgan region, Iran

Abstract: In many regions in the world sulfur deficiency has been recognized as a limiting factor for canola seed production. To investigate the effect of sulfur fertilizer and plant density of new cultivars of canola under climatic condition of Gorgan region and its suburb, an experiment was conducted in 2004-2005 in form of split split plot design with in randomized complete block design with three replications was used. The main plots consist of level of sulfur fertilizer (0, 125 and 150 kg/ha). Subplots were composed of three plant densities (60, 80 and 100 plants/m 2 ), and sub subplots were three cultivars of canola (RGS003, Hyola401 and Hyola420). Sulfur fertilizer had significant effect on the distance of first branch from earth, the number of pods in plant, oil percentage, biological yield and harvest index. Cultivar had significant effect on all characteristics, except of stem diameter and the number of seeds per plant. The interaction between sulfur fertilizer and cultivar had no significant influence on traits. Also, oil percentage was affected by plant density and cultivar interaction. There were positive and significant correlations between seed yield and length of pod in main stem (r = 0.436 ** ), and seed yield and length of pod in secondary branch (r = 0.488 ** ). Hyola401 also had the highest seed yield, the number of seeds per plant, a thousand seed weight, oil yield, biological yield and harvest index, which had a significant difference with other cultivars. The correlation between oil yield and seed yield was significant and positive (r = 0.790 ** ), it seems that seed yield had capacity and capability to influence oil yield. So under similar condition with this study, application of 250 kg S/ha besides using Hyola401 and the plant density of 60 plants per m 2 seems appropriate.

Variability of Pinus uncinata Ramond ex DC as expressed in needle traits

Abstract: Two-year needles were collected from 42 trees from 5 localities in Spanish Pyrenees. The needles were analysed in respect to 15 morphological and anatomical traits. Data obtained were subject of multivariate statistical analyses. The most stable traits appear to be width of epidermis cells, width and thickness of the needles and ratio of the last two characters. Number of the resin canals and the vascular bundles distance were the most variable characters. The differences among the 42 investigated trees are not evident, considerably small and not significant statistically. Additional key words: pine, Spain, morphoanatomy, statistical analysis Address: K. Boratyńska, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Dendrology, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland, e-mail: borkrys@rose.man.poznan.pl M.A. Bobowicz, Department of Genetics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Międzychodzka 5, 60-371 Poznań, Poland, e-mail: mabwa@main.amu.edu.pl

Morfologia radicular de cultivares de café arábica submetidas a diferentes arranjos espaciais

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the morphological responses of the root system of four Arabica coffee cultivars subjected to different spatial arrangements. The adopted plant spacings were 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.70, and 0.80 m between plants within rows, maintaining 3.8 m constant between rows. At 27, 35, and 39 months after transplanting, samples of soil+roots were collected at three surface positions in relation to plant stems and at three depths. Roots were washed, colored, digitalized, and processed with the Safira software. The Tupi RN IAC 1669‑13 cultivar showed a root system with superior morphological traits related to the absorption of nutrients and water, in comparison to those of the Catuai Vermelho IAC 144, Catuai Amarelo IAC 62, and Catuai Amarelo IAC 32 cultivars, for all tested spatial arrangements. The reduction in spacing increases the amount of total root per soil volume unit, without affecting the morphological quality of the root system, nor deepening it. The root systems of the evaluated cultivars are more abundant and show higher surface and specific length between adjacent plants, followed by the 0.25 and 0.50 m positions away from the coffee stem. The proportion of roots at the 0.1 m layer is higher than at the 0.4 m layer, for all plant spacings. Changes in spacings between plants within lines affect the morphology of Arabica coffee root system.

Plant morphology, environment, and leaf area growth in wheat and maize

Abstract: Leaf area expansion of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants, as contrasting representatives of the Gramineae family, was analysed. Seven variables were identified that together completely determine leaf area expansion of the plant: leaf appearance rate per tiller, specific site usage (fraction of buds that ultimately develop into a visible tiller at a specific site), Haun Stagedelay (indicating the timing of tiller appearance relative to the parent tiller), leaf elongation rate, leaf elongation duration, maximum leaf width and a leaf shape variable. Experiments with spaced plants in growth chambers yielded equations in which the effects of leaf and tiller position, temperature and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were quantified for each leaf area variable. In non-tillering species maize, leaf appearance rate and leaf elongation rate were higher, and leaf elongation duration was shorter at higher temperatures. At higher PPFD values, leaf appearance rate and maximum leaf width were higher and leaf elongation rate was lower. In wheat, the effects of temperature and PPFD were qualitatively equal to those in maize, except that there was no effect of PPFD on maximum leaf width. In the tillering species wheat, specific site usage was higher at lower temperatures and higher PPI'D values. Equations were developed for the effects of leaf position on leaf elongation rate and maximum leaf width. This knowledge was used in the analysis of effects of plant density in growth chamber and field experiments. Plant density mainly affected leaf appearance rate in maize and specific site usage in wheat. For both species, the effects of plant density on these variables seemed well related to local assimilate availability. Based upon the morphological framework presented, a simulation model was developed for wheat using the principles of object orientation. Plant related processes were strictly simulated at organ level. The simulation results showed clear differences in leaf area expansion for leaves at different positions in the plant. The morphological framework can be used for experimental analysis of leaf area growth, revealing mechanisms regulating leaf area growth of plants. The simulation model is flexible and can be easily extended for different environmental conditions and plant species.

Classification of Italian Xanthium strumarium complex based on biological traits, electrophoretic analysis and response to maize interference.

Abstract: Xanthium strumarium complex was studied taking plant seeds from 16 diverse locations in Italy. Plant morphophysiological traits were noted and electrophoretical analysis of seed reserve proteins was carried out from individual plants grown at the same site, in the presence and absence of competition from maize. Significant correlations between diverse plant phenological traits, the geographical origin of the seeds and the seed protein electrophoretic patterns were found. A high correlation between seed reserve proteins and the genetic structure of this weed was also detected. Maize competition increased Xanthium stem growth and decreased bur production and number of branches. Xanthium plant populations could be classified according to the morphological characters evaluated in three groups closely related to their geographical original area and latitude (northern, central and southern Italy), each showing precise morphological traits of Xanthium italicum, X. strumarium and X. orientale respectively. Electrophoresis supported the classification of these three morphological groups.