Effects of trampling and ethephon on leaf morphology in trampling-tolerant Plantago asiatica and Eleusine indica |
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| Authors: | Y Sunohara & H Ikeda† |
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| Institution: | University Farm, Faculty of Horticulture, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan, and;National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Summary The effects of simulated human trampling on leaf morphology and ethylene production as well as the effect of an ethylene releaser ethephon on leaf morphology were investigated for trampling-tolerant species, Plantago asiatica and Eleusine indica , and trampling-susceptible species, Gnaphalium affine and Panicum bisulcatum . In Pl. asiatica , trampling decreased the leaf length and increased the leaf blade length to width ratio and the leaf blade length to leaf (leaf blade + petiole) length ratio. In E. indica , trampling only decreased the leaf blade length to width ratio. Trampling increased ethylene production in intact seedlings of Pl. asiatica , E. indica and G. affine . The ethephon (1 mM) treatment increased the leaf blade length to width ratio in seedlings of Pl. asiatica , but decreased that in seedlings of E. indica in a manner similar to the morphological changes induced by trampling. In contrast, no significant differences in leaf morphology were observed between the ethephon-treated and control seedlings of trampling-susceptible species. These results suggest that trampling-tolerant species have higher responsiveness to ethylene than trampling-susceptible species and change their leaf morphology in response to ethylene induced by trampling. |
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| Keywords: | ethephon human trampling interspecific variation leaf morphology trampling-susceptible trampling-tolerant Plantago asiatica Eleusine indica |
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