Morphological characterization and defoliation responses of selected Schizachyrium scoparium genotypes
-
-
Authors: J. G. Carman
Date: 1985
Journal: American Midland Naturalist
Volume: 114
Number: 1
Pages: 37-43
Summary of Methods: In this study, Carman measured shoot and root growth for severely defoliated Schizachyrium scoparium plants, with different tillering rates and leaf lengths. Seeds from plants with short leaves were obtained from sites that had been grazed for 50-150 years and seeds from plants with long leaves were collected from a nearby exclosure. Following defoliation, short-leaved plants had greater leaf regrowth and long-leaved plants had greater root growth. The author suggests that the differences in growth allocation, before and after defoliation, were due to genetic differences resulting from the environments that the plant seeds were collected in, and the grazing tolerance required at those sites.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: schizachyrium scoparium, simulated herbivory, leaf length, genotypes, tillers, root growth
Annotation: Seeds were obtained from the Plant Materials Center in New Mexico, however, the study was conducted in a greenhouse and the location was not given. After characterizing shoot growth attributes, half of the plants of each genotype were randomly selected and defoliated to a 5-cm stubble height. ,Plants were destructively sampled 10 days after root staining. Season of use is not specified.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-