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MESOCOTYL ROOT FORMATION IN ECHINOCHLOA PHYLLOPOGON (POACEAE) IN RELATION TO ROOT ZONE AERATION
Author(s) -
Everard John D.,
LeCain Daniel R.,
Rumpho Mary E.,
Kennedy Robert A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1991.tb15212.x
Subject(s) - aerenchyma , biology , anoxic waters , echinochloa , shoot , aeration , poaceae , primordium , botany , hypoxia (environmental) , respiration , horticulture , oxygen , ecology , chemistry , weed , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Echinochloa phyllopogon was grown hydroponically under four root zone gassing treatments to determine aeration effects on the growth and development of the plant root system. Although mesocotyl growth and the number of nodal roots were unaffected by the treatments, other aspects of plant growth were altered. Shoot growth was reduced by hypoxic (5 kPa partial pressure O 2 in nitrogen gas) and anoxic conditions (O 2 free nitrogen gas), but not by ethylene (0.1 ppm in air). Seminal root growth was unaffected by hypoxia or ethylene treatments, but was reduced under anoxia. Hypoxic environments stimulated the emergence of roots along the length of the mesocotyl when compared to aerobic controls; anoxic and ethylene treatments had no significant effects. Mesocotyl roots elongated from primordia that were produced de novo in response to the hypoxic treatment. Under hypoxic conditions, aerenchyma was present in the cortex of nodal roots and to a lesser extent in seminal roots, but mesocotyl roots were devoid of aerenchyma under these conditions. The results are compared with the literature concerning flooding and aeration effects on growth and development in other species.