1988 Volume 57 Issue 4 Pages 699-707
The effect of temperature on growth and subsequent growth variations in Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Merkeron) pretreated with low temperatures were investigated mainly by leaf growth and dry matter production. Three groups of plants were, at first, grown separately in three controlled environments with day/night temperature of 15/12, 23/20 and 30/27°C for 15 days. Subsequently, plants from each controlled condition were grown for 33 days under a single condition in a glasshouse with 32/26°C in average. In the controlled environments, the plant growth was greatly restricted under the lowest temperature, while it was maximized under the highest temperature. In the glasshouse, relative growth rate was higher in plants pretreated with lower temperatures. This compensatory growth was brought about by the after effect of low temperatures on leaf area enlargement and net assimilation rate. The folded leaf. numbers and the total non structural carbohydrate concentration in the stem under the controlled environments were inversely related to temperature. It can be inferred that such results contributed to a more rapid increase in unfolded leaf numbers in the glasshouse, leading to a higher rate of leaf area enlargement and the higher net assimilation rate in plants pretreated with lower temperatures.
