Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) exhibits plasticity and are morphologically different under different conditions. Due to these differences, the weed might respond differently to weed management. Here, we examined the morphological characteristics of purple nutsedge from southern Ghana relative to those reported from other countries and further assessed differences in ecotypes from four agro-ecological zones in Ghana. A total of 46 purple nutsedge samples: 40 samples from 40 communities across the study area and three each from two research stations were used for the study. The plants were multiplied, planted into pots and laid out in Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Qualitative and quantitative assessments were carried out on both underground and aboveground morphological traits of the weed samples. The qualitative traits of the samples generally conformed to those reported in other countries and did not vary significantly between the agroecological zones (P > 0.05). The quantitative (growth) parameters showed significant differences among agroecological zones (P < 0.05) and were generally smaller than those reported in other countries, suggesting morphological adaptation of the weed in Ghana. Samples from the transitional zone were significantly smaller and this could facilitate easier management of the weed in that area. The principal component analysis gave four latent factors, which mainly pointed to photosynthetic structures and growth characteristics as the major components determining variations in the collection. Cluster analysis gave four clusters (at 0.7 similarity index), which were related neither to their geographic origin nor to the agro-ecological zones.
Cassava is the 6 th most important source of dietary energy in the world but its root system architecture (RSA) had seldom been quantified. Ability to select superior genotypes at juvenile stages can significantly reduce the cost and time for breeding to bridge the large yield gap. This study adopted a simple approach to phenotyping RSA traits of juvenile and mature cassava plants to identify genotypic differences and the relationships between juvenile traits and harvest index of mature plants. Root classes were categorised and root and shoot traits of eight (8) juvenile pot-grown cassava genotypes, were measured at 30 and 45 days after planting (DAP). The same or related traits were measured at 7 months after planting of the same genotypes grown in the field while yield and yield components were measured in 12months old field-grown plants. The field experiment was done in 2017 and repeated in 2018. Differences between genotypes for the measured traits were explored using analysis of variance (ANOVA) while traits in juvenile plants were correlated or regressed onto traits measured in 7-and 12-months old plants. The results show significant genotypic variations for most of the traits measured in both juvenile and 7-months old plants. In the 12-months old plants, differences between genotypes were consistent for both 2017 and 2018. Broadsense heritability was highest for the number of commercial roots (0.87) and shoot fresh weight (0.78) and intermediate for the total number of roots (0.60), harvest index (0.58), fresh weight of roots (0.45). For all the sampling time points or growth stages, there were greater correlations between traits measured at a particular growth stage than between the same traits at different growth stages. However, some juvenile-mature plant trait relationships were significant, positive and consistent for both 2017 and 2018. For example, total root length and the total number of roots in 30 DAP, and branching density of upper nodal roots in 45 DAP, positively correlated with harvest index of 12-months old plants in both 2017 and 2018. Similarly, the diameter of nodal roots, for example, had a negative,
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