Response of Acorus calamus L. leaf growth to shade and nutrient treatments. (Plant Ecology 02:00 PM, Saturday, April 5, 2003 Brewer/Frost Science 142 Dr. Cadance A. Lowell-Presiding).

Pai, Aswini ; McCarthy, Brian C.

2:15

Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae) is an emergent macrophyte found along vernal water bodies in unglaciated Ohio. It has economic potential as a source of medicine for stomach ailments and is also considered useful for wetland restoration. Shoots of the plant consist of long sword--like leaves with equitant leaf bases arising from a geophytic rhizome. We investigated optimal growth parameters of A. calamus rhizome with respect to nutrient and shade. We planted rhizomes of A. calamus that were 5 cm in length in 15 cm aquatic pot containers and subjected them to different shade (50 % shade and full sun) and nutrient levels (0.225 g [ml.sup.-1] N and 0.75 mg [ml.sup.-1] N applied semi weekly). Number of leaves, total leaf area and number of buds were observed at the end of ninety days. Analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant difference (F = 0.21, p > 0.5) in number of buds among shade treatments though there was a significant response (F = 22.01, p < 0.0001) to nutrient treatments. Total number of leaves varied significantly among light (F = 14.47, p < 0.0001) and nutrient (F = 23.07, p < 0.0001) treatments. Total leaf area varied significantly both among light (F = 17.57, p < 0.0001) and nutrient (F = 28.78, p < 0.0001) treatments. There were no significant interactions among treatments for any of the measured growth responses. Results suggest that light and nutrient availability may be limiting factors for optimal growth of the plant.

ASWINI PAI AP345389@OHIO.EDU AND BRIAN C. MCCARTHY, DEPT OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY, OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS OH 45701