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THE EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY ON THE GROWTH OF EPILOBIUM MONTANUM L.
Author(s) -
ATKINSON D.,
DAVISON A. W.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1971.tb02579.x
Subject(s) - phosphorus , phosphorus deficiency , stolon , biology , weed , agronomy , botany , zoology , chemistry , organic chemistry
S ummary A study was made of the effects of altering the length and timing of a period of phosphorus deficiency on populations of Epilobium montanum L. The total amount of phosphorus per leaf increased with the length of time for which the element was supplied but the concentration of certain phosphorus fractions varied with both the length and timing of the deficiency. An initial period of deficiency before giving a phosphorus supply produced a drastic decrease in growth and prevented flowering. This appeared to be caused by non‐utilization of phosphorus rather than inhibition of uptake. All three populations were extremely plastic in their response to phosphorus; plants which had only 1 week with phosphorus produced stolons while those which had 2 weeks produced viable seed. This plasticity may partly account for the occurrence of the species in extreme environments and for its success as a weed. The main difference between the populations was not in phosphorus nutrition but in the relative proportion of seeds and stolons produced.