The developmental pattern of roots and shoots of oats under favourable conditions.

Authors

  • J.J. Schuurman
  • J.J.H. de Boer

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18174/njas.v18i3.17340

Abstract

Oats were sown on 24 Mar. in asbestos tubes 75 cm long and 15 cm in diameter filled with humus sand and placed in the open. The water level in the soil profile was maintained at about 70 cm below the soil surface by natural rainfall and by a controlled water supply from shallow dishes in which the tubes stood. Plants were sampled in duplicate at weekly intervals between 13 May and 15 July and the developmental growth pattern of shoots and seminal and nodal roots was examined. The total weight of nodal roots increased until the plant had attained its maximum shoot length, and until about 5 weeks after the last leaf appeared on 26 May. Weights and DM content of the shoots increased over the whole of the experimental period. The greatest number of nodal roots was initiated during 3-10 June, between the end of tillering and the beginning of panicle emergence; after that the numbers initiated per week decreased gradually. The number of seminal roots varied between 4 and 5 per plant and reached their maximum weight just after the end of tillering and before the panicles became visible. After 10 June the weight and growth rate of seminal roots decreased rapidly. Seminal roots and the early initiated nodal roots were the most important part of the root system. In the week before the panicles became visible, root and shoot growth was interrupted; this was thought to be related to the transition from the vegetative to the generative stage. CMC. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Published

1970-08-01

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Papers