Growth, yield and aerenchyma formation of sweet and multipurpose sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) as affected by flooding at different growth stages

Promkhambut, A. and Polthanee, A. and Akkasaeng, C. and Younger, A. (2011) Growth, yield and aerenchyma formation of sweet and multipurpose sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) as affected by flooding at different growth stages. Australian Journal of Crop Science , 5 (8). pp. 954-965.

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
| Preview

Abstract

The greenhouse experiment was a 4 × 2 factorial in a RCB design with four replications. Three flooding treatments were applied at the early vegetative stage (EV), early reproductive stage (ER) and mid reproductive stage (MR). A non-flooded control group was used. Two proposed bioenergy sorghum types studied were sweet sorghum (Wray) and multipurpose sorghum (SP1). The results showed that plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight, primary root length and root dry weight of both cultivars were significantly reduced by flooding at EV and ER. However, there was no significant difference from the control at MR. Nodal root number were restricted when flooding was applied at EV but increased over the control at ER and MR in both cultivars. Root length and root dry weight, developed in water above soil surface, were significantly higher in Wray flooded at ER. In both cultivars, aerenchyma spaces were formed in the nodal and lateral roots of the flooded plants with the significantly highest number, forming during EV. Aerenchyma was more developed in roots, located above the soil, than in those located in the soil. There were more aerenchyma spaces in the sweet sorghum’s roots and stalk bases than in the multipurpose sorghum. At harvest, it was found that flooding applied at EV and ER had significantly reduced the stalk yield of both cultivars. The Wray had been the least affected by flooding at MR. These findings suggest that both sorghum types are susceptible to flooding at EV. Judging from the recovery capacity of stem diameter and height at a later growth stage, sweet sorghum was more tolerant to flooding than multipurpose sorghum. Nodal root development and aerenchyma formation in roots and stalk bases may be important acclimation responses to flooding.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Aerenchyma;Multipurpose sorghum; Nodal root; Sweet sorghum; Flooding.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, KhonKaen University 40002, Thailand
Subjects: Plant Production
Crop Improvement
Divisions: Sorghum
Depositing User: Mr B Krishnamurthy
Date Deposited: 09 Feb 2013 13:53
Last Modified: 09 Feb 2013 13:53
Official URL: http://www.cropj.com/prumkkhambut_5_8_2011_954_965...
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/9533

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item