Studies on the growth and development of the rhizome and lateral rhizome buds in Elytrigia repens: some effects of parent shoot excision

Abstract

In experiments conducted under controlled conditions, excision of the shoot of Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski increased the rate of rhizome elongation and promoted the growth of the lateral rhizome buds. Measurements with a transducer showed that the long-term growth response of the rhizome to shoot excision (4-6 days) was preceded by an immediate but transient (10 min) increase in growth rate. These various responses were associated with the occurrence of guttation from the rhizome apex, increases in the water content of the rhizome apex and lateral buds, and a 62% increase in rhizome water (pressure) potential. Parent shoot excision also induced a transition from rhizome to shoot development at the rhizome apex and caused lateral buds to develop as shoots instead of rhizomes when released from apical dominance. These developmental responses were associated with reductions in the dry weight of the rhizome apex and lateral buds and increases in the total N, amino-N, and nitrate content of the rhizome apex when expressed on a dry weight basis. These results provide evidence that, in E. repens, competition for water by the parent shoot may limit rhizome growth and contribute to the correlative inhibition of the lateral buds. They are also consistent with previous evidence that the C:N ratio may be an important morphogenetic factor in the mechanism controlling the path of bud and rhizome development.Key words: Elytrigia repens, water, nitrogen, rhizome, apical dominance.