DSH109@psuvm.psu.edu (Dave) (09/06/90)
I am about to begin a research project concerning
the effects of density on plants (real original
right?) for a class of mine. I was wondering
what plants grow quickly starting from seeds.
Thanks,
Daverdc30med@nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil (LCDR Michael E. Dobson) (09/06/90)
In article <90248.174509DSH109@psuvm.psu.edu> DSH109@psuvm.psu.edu (Dave) writes: >I am about to begin a research project concerning >the effects of density on plants (real original >right?) for a class of mine. I was wondering >what plants grow quickly starting from seeds. I remember my wife using cucumber seedlings for some auxin experiments as an undergraduate research project in plant physiololgy. They grew reasonably rapidly in styrofoam hot drink cups and it was easy to measure the growth on a daily basis. -- Mike Dobson, Sys Admin for | Internet: rdc30med@nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil | UUCP: ...uunet!mimsy!nmrdc1!rdc30med AT&T 3B2/600G Sys V R 3.2.2 | BITNET: dobson@usuhsb.bitnet WIN/TCP for 3B2 | MCI-Mail: 377-2719 or 0003772719@mcimail.com
rpeter@nmsu.edu (Peter Herman x5495) (09/06/90)
In response to Dave's question about plants to use for density dependent effects studies: Years ago as a grad student, I seem to remember using both one of the annual rye grasses (the type sold as "nurse crops" to protect newly seeded perennial lawns) and radishes in an Ecology class demo. You need to have a plant that starts to grow reasonably quickly if you really want to see the self-thinning and/or the -3/2 power rules at work. In addition, you don't want to use too much light or too much fertilization as these both retard the onset/severity of density dependent effects. If you don't already have the reference, White and Harper, 1970 (J. Ecol 58:467-485) is a good place to start and Harper's "Population Biology of Plants", Academic Press, 1977 has a very complete summary of the "classic" work in the area. rpeter@nmsu.edu Peter Herman Department of Biology New Mexico State University