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Stolon growth and branching in Glechoma hederacea L.: an application of a plastochron index
Author(s) -
BIRCH C. P. D.,
HUTCHINGS M. J.
Publication year - 1992
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.1469-8137.1992.tb00084.x
Subject(s) - stolon , branching (polymer chemistry) , plant stem , biology , fragmentation (computing) , botany , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
summary Stolon growth and branching in Glechoma hederacea L. was analyzed, using a plastochron index based on the number of ramets on each stolon and internode growth. New methods, employing this index, were used to detect fluctuations in the rate of stolon extension, and to analyse the development of secondary stolons. The plastochron index had a strong linear correlation with time, with a new primary ramet appearing every 3.5 d. The overall stolon extension rate fluctuated between 1.9 and 2.9 cm d −1 through each plastochron cycle. The age at which each node produced secondary stolons was related to its position on the plant, but the initial rates of secondary stolon development differed little between nodes. Rate of development of secondary stolons was strongly correlated with the time at which they started to grow. Thus, later developing secondary stolons grew more slowly than those developing earlier from nodes in equivalent positions.