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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #197235
Title: TROPICAL SPIDERWORT STEM DESICCATION AND RECOVERY

Author
item GREY, T - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Webster, Theodore

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2006
Publication Date: 7/11/2006
Citation: Grey, T.L., Webster, T.M. 2006. Tropical spiderwort stem desiccation and recovery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Peanut Research and Education Society Annual Meeting, July 11-14, 2006, Savannah, GA. 38:85.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tropical spiderwort has the curious ability to survive periods of drought stress, even as segmented pieces of stem. The purpose of this study was to establish the moisture level to which stems of tropical spiderwort (TSW) must desiccate in order to effectively kill the plant regenerative process. Stems of live TSW were harvested from greenhouse plants and divided into stem sections that included two nodes. Individual stems were then labeled and fresh stem weight for each recorded prior to initiation of desiccation treatment on a laboratory bench. Stems were randomly selected and stored in an individual paper bag during the desiccation treatment. Each experimental unit consisted of 20 stems and was replicated three times. Treatments were time of desiccation, and included 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 32 days after cutting. Following each duration of desiccation, each stem was weighed and the desiccation level determined for each time interval. The ability of the stems to rehydrate and grow was measured by planting the stems erectly, placing one node into pots with soil media and leaving the other node exposed. Pots were then fertilized and irrigated daily. Data to be presented include measures of time for stem regeneration, % recovery over time and at 21 days after planting, leaf number per plant, and shoot and root length and biomass.