Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-zklqj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T18:03:46.806Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Morphology and position of the shoot apex in some temperate grasses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. Wilman ,
Y. Gao  and
P. J. Michaud
D. Wilman
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD, UK
Y. Gao
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD, UK
P. J. Michaud
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The morphology and position of the shoot apex in field swards was studied in 12 grasses for 12 months, in eight related grasses in 2 years, and in seedlings, young tillers and older tillers of Lolium perenne.

Lolium multiflorum had relatively large numbers of primordia, long apices, which were above ground or near ground level, and a small length of apex per primordium. Festuca arundinacea had few primordia, a large length of apex per primordium, and apices which were well below ground or near ground level. Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis and Lolium × Festuca hybrids were intermediate between Lolium multiflorum and Festuca arundinacea in numbers of primordia and length of apex per primordium. Festuca rubra and Dactylis glomerata had rather small numbers of primordia, whereas Phleum pratense had relatively large numbers of primordia and of unemerged and emerged leaves.

The numbers of leaf primordia in Lolium perenne increased as the seedling main shoots or the tillers grew older, while the numbers of unemerged leaves per shoot remained more constant.

The morphology, position and protection of shoot apices are discussed in relation to differences between species in rate of establishment and persistence.

Information

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 122 , Issue 3 , June 1994 , pp. 375 - 383
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Clouting, G. M. & Hawkins, R. P. (1966). A technique for measuring the persistency of grass varieties. Journal of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany 10, 621–627.Google Scholar
Cooper, J. P. (1951). Studies on growth and development in Lolium. II. Pattern of bud development of the shoot apex and its ecological significance. Journal of Ecology 39, 228–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, A. (1988). The regrowth of grass swards. In The Grass Crop: The Physiological Basis of Production (Eds Jones, M. B. & Lazenby, A.), pp.85–127. London: Chapman and Hall.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, I. (1969). The influence of management on tiller development and herbage growth. Technical Bulletin no. 3, Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Emoto, T. (1989). Taxonomic studies on Festuca and Lolium based on isozyme variation. Bulletin of the Akita Prefectural College of Agriculture no. 15, pp. 75–109.Google Scholar
Frame, J. (1992). Improved Grassland Management. Ipswich: Farming Press.Google Scholar
Gao, Y. (1992). A comparison ofeight related grasses in respect of growth and morphology, with particular reference to establishment and persistence. PhD thesis, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Hughes, R., Jones, E. L., Rushton, W. H. & Evans, W. B. (1977). Variety evaluation – reactions to water stress. Annual Report of the Welsh Plant BreedingStation for 1976, pp. 36–44.Google Scholar
Jones, E. L. (1983). The production and persistency of different grass species cut at different heights. Grass and Forage Science 38, 79–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1988). Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops, 5th edn. Reference Book 209. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (1985). Recommended Varieties of Grasses. Farmers Leaflet no. 16. Cambridge.Google Scholar
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (1989 a). Recommended Varieties of Grasses and Herbage Legumes 1989/90. Farmers Leaflet no. 4. Cambridge.Google Scholar
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (1989 b). Classified List of Herbage Varieties, England and Wales 1989/90. Cambridge.Google Scholar
Peacock, J. M. (1975). Temperature and leaf growth in Lolium perenne. I. The thermal microclimate: its measurement and relation to crop growth. Journal of Applied Ecology 12, 99–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, P. J. (1983). Detailed studies of grass growth in field swards, with particular reference to response to nitrogen application and frequency of defoliation. PhD thesis, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Pearse, P. J. & Wilman, D. (1984). Effects of applied nitrogen on grass leaf initiation, development and death in field swards. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 103, 405–413.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rudeforth, C. C. (1970). Soils of North Cardiganshire. Harpenden: Soil Survey of England and Wales.Google Scholar
Scottish Agricultural Colleges (1984). Classification of grass and clover varieties for Scotland 1984–85. Publication no. 132. Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Sharman, B. C. (1947). The biology and developmental morphology of the shoot apex in the Gramineae. New Phytologist 46, 20–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snow, M. & Snow, R. (1948). On the determination of leaves. Society for Experimental Biology Symposium no. 2, pp. 263–275.Google Scholar
Spedding, C. R. W. & Diekmahns, E. C. (Eds) (1972). Grasses and legumes in British agriculture. Commonwealth Bureau of Pastures and Field Crops Bulletin no. 49. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.Google Scholar
Stebbins, G. L. (1956). Taxonomy and the evolution of genera, with special reference to the family Gramineae. Evolution 10, 235–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, H. & Humphreys, M. O. (1991). Progress and potential of interspecific hybrids of Lolium and Festuca. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 117, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilman, D. & Mohamed, A. A. (1980). Early spring and late autumn response to applied nitrogen in four grasses. 2. Leaf development. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 94, 443–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilman, D. & Mohamed, A. A. (1981). Response to nitrogen application and interval between harvests in five grasses. 2. Leaf development. Fertilizer Research 2, 3–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilman, D., Droushiotis, D., Mzamane, M. N. & Shim, J. S. (1977). The effect of interval between harvests and nitrogen application on initiation, emergence and longevity of leaves, longevity of tillers and dimensions and weights of leaves and ‘stems’ in Lolium. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89, 64–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar