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Effect of Ammonium to Nitrate Ratio on Growth and Anthocyanin Development of Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars 1
Author(s) -
Nittler L. W.,
Kenny T. J.
Publication year - 1976
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/agronj1976.00021962006800040038x
Subject(s) - cultivar , lolium perenne , anthocyanin , tiller (botany) , perennial plant , agronomy , biology , ammonium , ammonium nitrate , horticulture , chemistry , organic chemistry
Improved methods of determining cultivar purity of perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., seed lots, are needed. We conducted studies to find characteristics in which cultivars might differ. Seedlings were grown in sand and were supplied with solutions in which 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the N was NH 4 and the remainder was NO 3 . Growth and anthocyanin development were affected by ratio of ammonium to nitrate. Cultivars differed in both characteristics. Growth, as determined by tiller height, was greatest when plants were grown with 25% of the N as NH 4 . Anthocyanin development, as determined by percentage of the tiller height showing red color, was greatest when plants were grown with a solution in which 100% of the N was NH4. Cultivar differences in tiller height were greatest when plants were grown with 25% of the N as NH 4 . Cultivar differences in anthocyanin development were greatest when plants were grown with 75% of the N as NH 4 . With this solution, cultivars differed in percentage of plants in which red color extended the entire length of the tillers. Both anthocyanin development and tiller height were useful in determining cultivar purity of seed lots.