Water stress may decelerate purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) invasion in arid environments

Abstract

AbstractCyperus rotundusL. causes high yield losses in fruiting vegetables and cucurbits in eastern and southeastern parts of Iran. Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of degree and duration of water stress on growth, fecundity and biomass partitioning of purple nutsedge. The degree of water stress study included five treatments, where the amount of water applied to each pot at 3-day interval was equivalent to 100, 75, 50, 25, and 12.5% of pot water content. The study of water stress duration included six durations of water stress: 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15- and 18-day intervals, where the amount of water applied to each pot was equivalent to 100% of pot water content. The greatest values for plant height, leaf area, shoot and tuber number and below- and aboveground biomass were recorded at 100% of pot water content and also at 3-day water stress duration, whereas they were reduced as degree and duration of water stress increased. This study shows that althoughC. rotundusis susceptible to water stress, it allocates greater biomass to underground organs under a higher degree and duration of water stress. This necessitates strategies that minimize water availability to purple nutsedge plants and inhibit new shoot and tuber production.