Summary. Root fragments less than 5 mm long were unable to form shoots. However, shoots were produced by fragments 10 mm long and 1 mm in diameter, unless originating from immature apical regions. The number of shoots per unit length of root was greater if the root was cut into many small pieces than into a few long ones. The ability to produce shoots was apparently unrelated to the presence or absence of visible buds.
Root fragments showed polarity; most of the shoots originated from the basal (proximal) end and the roots from the apical (distal) end. Soil moisture content had relatively little effect upon growth from a fragment unless the soil was waterlogged or very dry for prolonged periods. Growth from fragments was prevented by temperatures below 5°C; optimum growth occurred at 15°G. Shoots from fragments 25 mm long emerged successfully from depths of 50 cm.
Capacité de régenération de fragments de racines de Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.
Summary
Germination of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Bentth seeds in response to the strigol analogue GR 24 was strongly influenced by soil moisture prior to, at, or after, stimulation. Exposure of seeds to excessive soil moisture contents (70% w/w) during conditioning resulted in a low response to GR 24. Transfer of Seeds from soil at 70% moisture to a lower moisture level (47%) for 2 days or more improved the response to GR 24 (37–58% germination), white air‐drying restored germination (88%). In Gezira soil the optimum soil moisture contents for maximum response to GR 24 were 44, 38 and 40% during conditioning, stimulation and germination, respectively. The corresponding figures for the sandy soil were 20, 22 and 22%, respectively. Persistence of GR 24 was similar in both soil types, but was strongly influenced by soil moisture content. The stimulant was stable in air‐dry soil, but a rapid loss was encountered in moist soil.
Summary
Experiments with the alkaline heavy clays of the Sudan Gezira showed that when the strigol analogue GR7 was applied to moist soil prior to subjecting Striga hermonthica seeds to moist conditions (‘conditioning’) for 7–14 days, there was no significant increase in germination. Conditioning of seeds in soils treated with GR7 had an adverse effect on the responsiveness of seeds when GR7 was added again after conditioning. Under ideal conditions, when GR7 was applied to conditioned seeds in moist soil, up to 75% germination could be induced by 2.0 kg/ha incorporated to 2–3 cm depth. Residual activity of GR7 persisted in air‐dry soil, but at 50% moisture there was complete loss within 1 day. However, when conditioned seeds were put into the soil immediately after GR7 application its activity increased with increasing soil moisture.
Summary
Ethephon (2‐chloroethylphosphonic acid), which generates ethylene, stimulated the germination of pre‐conditioned seeds of Striga hermonthica when it was added to the alkaline Gezira clay soil at concentrations of 2.5 to 30 mg kg−1. As little as 5 min contact with treated soil was enough to stimulate germination. Ethephon in soil did not cause germination of unconditioned seeds for periods of up to 12 days and also had an adverse effect on seed germination when such seeds were given a second ethephon exposure after a storage period which was adequate, in untreated soil, to give the necessary pre‐conditioning. Ethephon activity persisted in air‐dry soil but declined over a 14 day period in moist soil. In the field ethephon at 0.6 to 4.8 kg ha−1 decreased the number of Striga shoots and increased sorghum height and flowering.
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