Leaf Removal in Grain Sorghum. I. Effects of Certain Defoliation Treatments on Yield and Components of Yield¹

Abstract

Synopsis A curvilinear relationship between grain yield and leaf area was found. Generally, changes in each of the 3 yield components were responsible for yield differences, although number of seeds per head and seed weight underwent greatest change. Greater yield reduction resulted from removing leaf area from upper than from lower portions of the plant. Likewise, removing alternate leaves was more deleterious than removing half of each leaf. In 1959, mean yield decreases of 23, 35, 43, and 95%, respectively, were obtained from removing approximately 33, 50, 67, and 100% of the leaf area at late boot and anthesis stages.

Carbon Integration in Plantago aristata (Plantaginaceae): The Reproductive Effects of Defoliation

“…When the bracts were missing, neither the rest of the metamer nor the rest of the shoot compensated for the loss of the leaf. Other studies have shown that after partial defoliation or shading, remaining leaves increase their photosynthetic rates per unit area (e.g., Stickler and Pauli, 1961;Thorne and Koller, 1974;Satoh, Kriedemann, and Loveys, 1977;Thomas and Stoddart, 1980;McNaughton, 1983;Yamashita and Fujino, 1986;Mendoza, Pinero, and Sarukhan, 1987;Gold and Caldwell, 1990). Our data suggest that the bracts, modified leaves, compensate for leaf removal by responding similarly.…”

Effects of Experimental Defoliation on Growth, Reproduction and Survival of Astrocaryum Mexicanum

“…For example, the removal of young leaves from crops (Sackston 1959;Stickler & Pauli 1961;Brown, Cooper & Blaser 1966) and timber trees (O'Neil 1962;Kulman 1965) is more detrimental to growth and reproduction than is the removal of older leaves. For example, the removal of young leaves from crops (Sackston 1959;Stickler & Pauli 1961;Brown, Cooper & Blaser 1966) and timber trees (O'Neil 1962;Kulman 1965) is more detrimental to growth and reproduction than is the removal of older leaves.…”

Studies of grain production in Sorghum vulgare. II. Sites responsible for grain dry matter production during the post-anthesis period

“…However, a careful analysis has not been made in grain sorghum. Li and Liu (1935) indicated the importance of the upper three leaves in an unspecified type of Sorghum vulgare, and Stickler and Pauli (1961) demonstrated that the leaves of the upper half of the plant are associated with maximum yield.…”