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Growth Strategy of Rhizomatous and Non-Rhizomatous Tall Fescue Populations in Response to Defoliation

Author

Listed:
  • Racheal H. Bryant

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand)

  • Cory Matthew

    (Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

  • John Hodgson

    (Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the morphology of rhizome production, in two contrasting rhizomatous (R) and non-rhizomatous (NR) tall fescue ( Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort) populations, and to assess whether rhizome production is associated with changed biomass allocation or plant growth pattern. Growth of R and NR populations was compared, under hard defoliation (H, 50 mm stubble), lax defoliation (L, 100 mm stubble), or without defoliation (U, uncut). Populations were cloned and grown in a glasshouse and defoliated every three weeks, with destructive harvests performed at 6, 12 and 18 weeks. R plants allocated more biomass to root and less to pseudostem than NR plants. Plant tiller numbers were greatly reduced by defoliation, and R and NR populations differed in leaf formation strategy. R plants had narrower leaves than NR, but their leaves were longer, because of greater leaf elongation duration. R plants were more plastic than NR plants in response to defoliation. Ultimately, biomass allocation to rhizomes did not differ between populations but R plants exhibited a subtle shift in distribution of internode length with a few longer internode segments typically located on secondary and tertiary tillers.

Suggested Citation

  • Racheal H. Bryant & Cory Matthew & John Hodgson, 2015. "Growth Strategy of Rhizomatous and Non-Rhizomatous Tall Fescue Populations in Response to Defoliation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:5:y:2015:i:3:p:791-805:d:55656
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. anonymous, 1989. "Agriculture: rebound in farmland values," Cross Sections, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, issue Fall, pages 1-13.
    2. Unknown, 1989. "World Agricultural Trends and Indicators, 1970-88," Statistical Bulletin 154684, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cory Matthew & Lilian Elgalise Techio Pereira, 2017. "Forage Plant Ecophysiology: A Discipline Come of Age," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-9, July.

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