Host shoot clipping depresses the growth of weedy hemiparasitic Pedicularis kansuensis.
J Plant Res
; 128(4): 563-72, 2015 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25956077
Root hemiparasitic plants show optimal growth when attached to a suitable host by abstracting water and nutrients. Despite the fact that damage to host plants in the wild occurs frequently in various forms (e.g. grazing), effects of host damage on growth and physiological performance of root hemiparasites remain unclear. In this study, host shoot clipping was conducted to determine the influence of host damage on photosynthetic and growth performance of a weedy root hemiparasite, Pedicularis kansuensis, and its interaction with a host, Elymus nutans. Photosynthetic capacity, tissue mineral nutrient content and plant biomass of P. kansuensis were significantly improved when attached to a host plant. Host clipping had no effect on quantum efficiency (ΦPSII), but significantly reduced the growth rate and biomass of P. kansuensis. In contrast, clipping significantly improved photosynthetic capacity and accumulation of potassium in E. nutans. No significant decrease in biomass was observed in clipped host plants. By changing nutrient absorption and allocation, clipping affected the interaction between P. kansuensis and its host. Our results showed that host clipping significantly suppressed the growth of weedy P. kansuensis, but did not affect biomass accumulation in E. nutans. We propose that grazing (a dominant way of causing host damage in the field) may have a potential in the control against the weedy hemiparasite.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plant Shoots
/
Elymus
/
Pedicularis
/
Weed Control
Language:
En
Journal:
J Plant Res
Journal subject:
BOTANICA
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication: