Abstract

CASIERRA-POSADA, Fánor  and  GOMEZ G., Nancy E.. Leaf and root growth of sisal plants (Furcraea castilla and F. macrophylla) growing under flooding stress. Agron. colomb. [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.3, pp.381-388. ISSN 0120-9965.

In tropical and subtropical regions severe crop losses are caused by prolonged seasonal rainfall. Excess water produces anoxic soil conditions within a few hours. Plant roots, consequently, suffer hypoxia or anoxia, which results in an energy crisis affecting the plant growth. The present study aims to determine the leaf and root growth of two sisal species (Furcraea castilla and F. macrophylla) growing under flooding stress in open field in Tunja, Colombia. Plants grew from bulblets in plastic bags filled with 3 kg of soil. Control plants were watered every 4 days. The bags of the flooded plants were covered with an additional plastic bag limiting drainage, and were watered until the water surface remained 1 cm above soil. In both species, the dry total matter per plant, the specific leaf weight and leaf area were depressed by flooding, while the total root length was increased. The root to shoot ratio was reduced by flooding in F. macrophylla but in F. castilla it increased. Although both species were strongly affected by flooding, F. macrophylla showed better adaptation to this stress factor than F. castilla.

Keywords : leaf area; dry matter partitioning; root:shoot ratio; root length.

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