Li^1,2 YY, X-T Lü¹, Z-W Wang¹, C Zhou^3,4, X-G Han¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 283-289, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.283

Abstract Relative growth rate (RGR) of plants is a key component of fitness. Theoretically, the RGR of plants would be closely related with biomass allocation. Our mechanistic understanding of the relationship between RGR and biomass allocation under global change scenarios is still limited. We examined the responses of RGR and biomass allocation of Leymus chinensis, a dominant grass in the temperate steppe of northern China, to a wide range of N addition. We found that N addition increased RGR of L. chinensis up to a threshold of 10 g N/m². While leaf and stem weight ratios were positively correlated with N… More >

Wei TX¹, XJ Zhang^1,2, JZ Zhu¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 213-223, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.213

Abstract In order to examine the nutrient content, and the distribution and accumulation patterns of individual nutrients in the natural secondary forests (NSFs), sample NSF plots were selected in the Caijiachuan watershed on the Loess Plateau. On the basis of a comprehensive field inventory to the NSFs in Caijiachuan watershed, a 40 m × 40 m sample plot was selected as the representative plot. Each tree plant was then measured to select the standard tree in accordance with a diameter-scale. For measurement of the biomass in the above-ground part of the tree, it was divided into parts and measured. The study… More >

Díaz-López E¹, JM Loeza-Corte², I Brena-Hernández², JM Campos Pastelín², IJ Orlando-Guerrero², G Salgado-Benítez³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 171-178, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.171

Abstract The Toluca´s México valley is considered a high valley because it is situated at 2560 m.a.s.l. In this region, maize is the most important crop; free pollination [Yellow, red, blue and flour maize (Cacahuacintle)] and hybrid materials are grown. Corn yield is negatively affected by an inadequate P fertilization. The aim of this study was to determine the agronomic effectiveness of phosphorus in terms of biomass and yield on three cultivars of maize as a function of six levels of phosphorus fertilization in the Toluca´s valley, Mexico. The materials Amarillo Almoloya, Cacahuacintle and Cóndor were sown under a completely randomized… More >

Ferrante D^1,2, A Cesa^1,2, S Lewis², G Jaurena³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 127-131, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.127

Abstract In plants, compensatory growth takes place when the positive effects of defoliation compensate the negative ones, and defoliated plants show a similar or increased production in relation to non-defoliated plants. Our objective was to evaluate the ability to compensate defoliation of Poa spiciformis, a forage perennial tussock grass in southern Patagonia (Argentina). The experiment was performed in potted plants that grew under controlled conditions of watering and fertilization. Three defoliation frequencies were imposed (zero, three or five) using 20-25 day intervals among them. Harvest intensity was always equivalent to 50% of the aerial biomass. Fifteen plants were sampled per treatment,… More >

Wilckens P¹, MP Fernández², M Gómez¹, I Peña³, G Montenegro¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.82, pp. 81-90, 2013, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2013.82.081

Abstract Buddleja globosa Hope is a well-known native, medicinal plant because of its digestive and cicatrizing properties. Due to the increasing domestic and international demand, B. globosa abundance and distribution in Chile has resulted in the intensive exploitation of the plant’s natural habitat, without consideration of the plant’s regenerative capacity. The main objective of this research was to establish the B. globosa growth cycle and model its regeneration cycle. This would allow for more productive, efficient and sustainable use and management of this species, thus ensuring its long-term conservation. We selected two study sites, one wild and another one cultivated. In… More >

Wen L¹, SK Dong¹, YY Li¹, C Pulver², XY Li¹, JJ Shi³, YL Wang³, YS Ma³, DM Liu⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.82, pp. 45-54, 2013, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2013.82.045

Abstract The alpine grassland in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an extensive rangeland ecosystem sustaining a sparse population of traditional nomadic pastoralists in China. However, global climate change and anthropologic disturbances have severely degraded the alpine grasslands, and the consequences of this degradation are largely unknown. Forage is the only food source for livestock in the alpine region, and livestock is the major income source for nomadic herders. Therefore, it is critical to assess the forage quantity and quality along the current grassland degradation gradient. In this study, we examined the botanical composition, biomass of different functional groups, and forage grass nutritive… More >

López-Elías JA¹, D Fimbres-Olivarría³, LA Medina-Juárez¹, A Miranda-Baeza², LR Martínez-Córdova¹, DMA Molina-Quijada³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.82, pp. 23-30, 2013, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2013.82.023

Abstract Microalgae have a high content of antioxidant compounds (carotenoids, phycobilins and fatty acids) used in biotechnology industry. Under stress conditions Dunaliella cells produce more carotenoids. Because of this, we evaluated growth, biomass and carotenoid production under control (indoor) and outdoor conditions using mass cultures of Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher, under nitrogenlimited media. Control medium was f/2 (nitrates: 18.75 g/L), and limited media were f/4 (nitrates: 37.5 g/L), f/6 (nitrates: 25 g/L) and f/8 (nitrates: 18.75 g/L). The highest cell concentrations were found in cultures using medium f/2 maintained indoor (1.28 x 10⁶ cells/mL) and outdoor (0.76 x 10⁶ cell/mL). Dry biomass… More >

Castro-Nava S¹, J Ortiz-Cereceres^2,†, M del C Mendoza-Castillo², AJ Huerta³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.81, pp. 149-156, 2012, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2012.81.149

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of drought classification criteria that we previously reported for our grain sorghum genotypes. Two tolerant genotypes of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] (UAT-124 and UAT-152) and one susceptible (UAT-30) were subjected to drought under greenhouse conditions at either panicle initiation, flag leaf, or flowering. Results showed that the effects of drought depended on when drought stress occurred during development. Biomass of the three sorghum genotypes was significantly reduced at the flag leaf stage (48%) by drought stress, but the greatest reduction occurred in the susceptible genotype UAT-30 (71%). Results… More >

Salinas¹ R, E Sánchez², JM Ruíz³, MT Lao¹, L Romero³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.81, pp. 35-39, 2012, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2012.81.035

Abstract We determined the (1) deficiency, (2) apropriate level and (3) toxiticity of phosphorus on the total biomass production and yield of judía verde (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. ‘Strike’. Studies were conducted in a growth chamber using pots. Phosphorus levels in the nutrient solution were P1: 0.5 mM; P2: 1 mM; P3: 2 mM; P4: 4 mM; P5: 6 mM, and P6: 8 mM. The optimum phosporus concentration was P3. As soil phosphorus concentration increased, concentration of this nutrient also increased in the plant. Leaf, petiole and shoot biomasses were more sensitive to deficiency than to toxicity of phosphorus. However, root… More >

Zhang¹ WD, DS Liu², JC Tian^1*, FL He¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.78, pp. 147-154, 2009, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2009.78.147

Abstract Soil arsenic contamination becomes a potential agricultural and environmental hazard worldwide, and has been a serious problem for safe food production. A field experiment on soil contamination was conducted on four wheat varieties (Jimai, Gaoyou, Weimai and Wennong) in Eastern China, using 50 or 100 mg arsenic/kg soil. Biomass production and yield components were determined and arsenic concentrations were measured in plant tissues. Differential arsenic effects on wheat varieties were determined at maturity. Results showed that addition of arsenic significantly (p<0.05) reduced root, stem and spike dry weight and yield components, which resulted in the decrease of grain yield per… More >