EFFECTS OF ADVENTITIOUS ROOT REMOVAL ON THE GROWTH OF FLOODED TROPICAL PASTURE LEGUMES Macroptilium lathyroides and Vigna luteola

Abstract

Macroptilium lathyroides and Vigna luteola with either intact or removed adventitious roots from the immersed stem, were flooded con-tinuously for 15 and 30 days from the start of flowering.
The removal of adventitious roots from the immersed stem of the flooded plants hastened leaf chlorosis and abscission. Dry matter yield (shoots and roots) and nodule dry weight were reduced to a considerable extent in V. luteola but only to a minor extent in M. lathyroides.
All flooded plants survived with increase in flooding duration. The rapid formation of adventitious roots noted in these species soon after immersion provided the adaptive mechanism for plant survival and growth under flooding.