Effect of plant size on the number of caryopses in barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli (Poaceae)

Zdenka Martinková 1 & Alois Honěk 2

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Protection, Department of Herbology, 161 06 Praha 6 - Ruzyně 507, Czechoslovakia
  2. Institute of Plant Protection, Department of Entomology, 161 06 Praha 6 - Ruzyně 507, Czechoslovakia
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Abstract

Production of caryopses in barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-gal/i (L.) P. Beauv. was investigated. Sixteen plants of different size growing within a maize crop were marked, and their panicles harvested and number of caryopses recorded in 10 day intervals, between July 20 and August 31. Total production of caryopses over the whole period of seed production was proportionate to plant size. The plants produced 650 caryopses per 1 g of above ground dry mass, regardless of the number and size of tillers and panicles . The average number of caryopses per panic le increased with average mass of tlle tillers, and decreased in the course of the season. The mass of mature caryopses also decreased toward the autumn.

Keywords

Echinochloa crus-galli, plant size, production of caryopses, quality of caryopses

How to cite

Martinková Z., Honěk A. (1992) Effect of plant size on the number of caryopses in barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli (Poaceae). – Preslia 64: 171–176