Browsing by Subject "root growth"
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Item Characterization of G?E Interactions on Yield and Quality of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)(2014-07-13) Sharma, Sat PalMuskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) genotypes belonging to reticulatus and inodorus groups were evaluated under natural and modified field-environments. In the genotype ? environment interactions studies, yield and fruit quality traits were characterized using GGE Biplot for four TAMU breeding lines and five commercial F_(1) hybrids in three years (2010, 2011, and 2012) at three locations (College Station, Uvalde and Weslaco) in the south-central Texas. Genotype ?TAMU Orange Casaba? was identified as the highest mean performing genotype for fruit yield with specific adaptation to the Weslaco area. ?Mission? was confirmed as the most stable and average performing genotype for marketable yield and quality traits at all locations. Uvalde was identified as the ideal location for selecting generally adapted genotypes to south-central Texas. Under deficit irrigation (DI, 50% ETc), a significant yield reduction of 43% in 2011 and 33% in 2012 was measured in ?Super Nectar? (inodorus type), while for cvs. Mission and ?Da Vinci? (reticulatus type) the reduction in yield was 24% and 30%, respectively in 2012. No adverse impact of DI was observed on fruit quality. Further, DI enhanced root length intensity (L_(a); cm?cm^(-2)) in cv. Mission, maintained it in cv. Da Vinci, and decreased it in cv. Super Nectar. Thus, this suggests that the reticulatus melons have better adaptation to water deficit condition in south Texas as compared to the inodorus melon. In another experiment, clay (Uvalde) and sandy loam soils (Weslaco) had variable impact on root growth and yield of melon genotypes. Sandy loam soil produced 77% higher L_(a) as compared to clay soil. Under sandy loam soil, root growth distribution was deeper (40 - 70 cm) while it was shallower (< 30 cm) in clay soils. Melon plants grown in clay soil produced 40% and 24% higher marketable and total fruit yield, respectively as compared to sandy loam soil, a response most likely due to longer growing season and differences in soil characteristics at Uvalde. The great rooting ability of TAMU breeding lines under different soil types and equivalent yield potential to commercial hybrids confirms their potential as parent for developing high yielding and stable cultivars for a wide range of environments in south-central Texas.Item Effect of pervious and impervious pavement on the rhizosphere of American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)(2012-07-16) Viswanathan, BhavanaMature trees help to offset urban area problems caused by impervious pavement. Trees in paved areas remain unhealthy due to a poor root zone environment. The objective of this experiment was to test if soil under pervious concrete, with greater water and gas infiltration, would be more beneficial to existing mature trees during urban development. Root activity, root growth and soil chemistry of American sweetgum under standard concrete, pervious concrete and no concrete were measured. Soil CO2 efflux rates and soil CO2 concentrations were extremely high under both concrete treatments. Soil under standard concrete had lower oxygen concentrations than soil under pervious concrete and control treatments, particularly under wet conditions. There was no pavement effect on soil water content or soil chemistry. Under control treatment standing live root length was greater than under both concrete treatments. There were no major differences in soil conditions between impervious and pervious concrete treatments. The soil under the plots, a Ships clay, with very low permeability may have prevented soil water infiltration. Likely this overrode any potential treatment effects due to porosity of the concrete. To obtain root zone benefits out of pervious concrete, a different base soil with a higher permeability would be a better alternative.