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Regeneration from rhizome fragments of Agropyron repens
Author(s) -
LEAKEY R. R. B.,
CHANCELLOR R. J.,
VINCEPRUE D.
Publication year - 1977
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.1744-7348.1977.tb01908.x
Subject(s) - rhizome , dormancy , biology , agropyron , repens , shoot , botany , horticulture , agronomy , germination
SUMMARY Experiments were done with rhizome fragments of Agropyron repens with or without ‘late spring dormancy’. Increasing concentrations of KN0 3 from 1 to 210 ppm successively increased the percentage of buds released from dormancy, but the restriction of shoot extension was significantly lessened only when concentrations of nitrogen were 50 ppm or more. Solutions of sodium nitrite, ammonium chloride and glutamic acid with equal nitrogen contents were equally effective in releasing buds from dormancy. Larger amounts of nitrogen were required to stimulate growth in basal buds, than in apical buds. GA 3 , and chilling at – 2 o C slightly increased the percentage of buds growing but did not significantly affect the amount of extension growth, while ethephon (2‐chloroethylphosphonic acid) had no effect. The restoration of regenerative capacity was associated with increased utilization of rhizome sugars. In single‐node rhizome fragments with ‘late spring dormancy’, chilling for 2 wk slightly increased the regenerative capacity but chilling for longer periods decreased it, possibly because respiration during the protracted period of chilling depleted rhizome reserves. Chilling also increased the utilization of rhizome carbohydrates during subsequent growth. Node position affected regenerative capacity: buds from the apical end of the rhizomes were found to have the highest regenerative capacity, this being associated with their greater nitrogen content. Because the name ‘late spring dormancy’ seems to be inappropriate for this phenomena, the term ‘Restricted Regenerative Capacity’ is proposed.