Studies on the growth and development of Oxalis latifolia

Abstract

The growth and development of Oxalis latifolia was assessed on outdoor-grown potted plants raised from bulbs. Three main phases of growth appeared to be correlated with major physiological developments in the aerial and subterranean organs. Establishment (weeks 1 -5 ) was characterised by a slow gain in plant dry weight accompanied by high relative growth rate (RGR) values for individual plant organs. The second phase of growth (weeks 6 -12) was reproductive, as stolons grew and initiated bulbils at the apices. Bulbils had the capacity to produce their own shoot system and ultimately some primary bulbils supported secondary bulbils. Dry matter accumulation was in the order : bulbils > peduncles > leaves > petioles > stolons = roots > parent bulb. The RGR of individual plant organs declined together with the net assimilation (NAR) rates and the leaf area ratio of the shoots during the reproductive phase and beyond into the senescence phase (week 13 onwards). The results are discussed in relation to the problem of achieving weed control via cultural and herbicide treatments.

Control de Oxalis latifolia: Revisión y propuestas para su mejoramiento

“…El ciclo anual se divide en tres fases (Marshall y Gitari, 1988): establecimiento, multiplicación y senescencia. El establecimiento incluye la germinación y la emergencia del bulbo parental (Chawdhry (1974).…”

“…Por lo tanto, la reproducción fuera de su área de origen es preferentemente agámica. Es decir, las poblaciones son en su gran mayoría clones (Marshall y Gitari, 1988). La falta de variabilidad genética aparentemente podría ser ventajosa para su control.…”