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VIRUS DISEASES OF CACAO IN WEST AFRICA: IV. EFFECT OF VIRUS INFECTION ON GROWTH AND WATER CONTENT OF CACAO SEEDLINGS
Author(s) -
GOODALL D. W.
Publication year - 1949
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1949.tb06940.x
Subject(s) - biology , sowing , dry weight , shoot , dry matter , relative growth rate , horticulture , botany , agronomy , growth rate , geometry , mathematics
Apparently healthy cacao seedlings were compared with those infected before planting with ‘swollen shoot’ viruses. The leaf area and the fresh and dry weights of each organ were measured. Infected plants were lower in dry weight, leaf area, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate; a smaller proportion of the dry matter was in the leaves and lateral roots, a larger proportion in stems and tap roots. Infection caused extensive necrosis of the lateral roots, and reduced the rate of depletion of reserves in the cotyledons and the water content of the plant. Many of these effects were apparent within a month of infection and planting.