Effect of drying soil condition on the morpho-anatomy of corn and rice leaves

Date

3-1992

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Bonifacio T. Mercado

Abstract

LARDIZABAL, MARLENE CONCEPCION, R. 1992. Effect o Drying Soil Condition on the Morpho-Anatomy of the Corn and Rice Leaves. University of the Philippines at Los Banos, College, Laguna.

Adviser: Dr. Bonifacio T. Mercado

The effect of alternate drying and wetting of soil on the morphology and the leaf anatomy of corn and rice was studied. Three treatments were prepared: control, fully watered; 3-day stressed, watered every other 3 days; 6-day stressed, watered every other 6 days. The imposition of drying for 3 or 6-day-period followed by rewatering as expected decreased plant height, leaf length and plant dry weights. Rice appears to be more sensitive to this kind of stress than corn. A longer delayed response to watering in rice was observed in all treatments. Nevertheless, a continued though repressed growth was observed in the stressed plants. This might suggest that the plants had developed some stress protection mechanisms. In the 3-day-stress response after rewatering was immediately observed compared to the 6--day stress. Measurements done on specific leaf tissues show that the cuticle becomes relatively thicker with time. The bulliform cells also show marked increased diameter. These large parenchymatous cells could have provided the protective response to the alternate wetting and drying condition of the soil. The ultimate cause of the reduction in growth of the stress plant may be inferred from the observed narrowing of the vascular tissues diameter which resulted to the short supply of sugar to the growing regions.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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