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Environmental Factors Affecting Root Development and Reserve Carbohydrates of Bermudagrass Cuttings 1
Author(s) -
Burns Robert E.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1972.00021962006400010014x
Subject(s) - cutting , light intensity , shoot , cynodon , horticulture , biology , agronomy , botany , physics , optics
Bermudagrass ( Cynodon sp .) cuttings were grown in growth chambers to determine the effect of temperature, light intensity, and daylength on root development. Total root length, average length of root, number of roots, and roots per node were less when grown under lower temperature, (27/15 C vs. 32/24 C), light intensity (800fc vs. l,500fc), or daylength (10 hr vs. 16 hr). Root branching was 67% less at the low temperature, 42% less in low light intensity, but was not affected by daylength. Reserve carbohydrates were less with short daylength or low light intensity, but were higher under low temperature. The number of cuttings that produced no roots, those on which new shoots developed, and the number of nodes producing roots varied independently of temperature, daylength, or light intensity. Light intensity and temperature appear to be as important as daylength in the performance of late‐sprigged bermudagrass.