Experimental Agriculture

Table of Contents - 1980 - Volume 16, Issue 03  

Research Article

Reciprocal Grafts between Large Plants: Technique and Evaluation with Cowpeas†

R. J. Summerfielda1 and F. R. Minchina1

a1 University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AD, UK

Abstract

A technique has been developed and tested for successfully grafting large, leafy cowpea shoots onto roots, which may be nodulated or not. Grafting per se had no significant effect on either the production or distribution of vegetative or reproductive dry matter compared with control plants left intact throughout growth. Furthermore, numerical components of yield and the concentration (%) and content (mg) of nitrogen in respective plant components were remarkably invariant. Examples are discussed of the variations in nitrogen nutrition which can be achieved and the potentials of the technique in general.

(Accepted February 22 1980)

Footnotes

† One of a series of papers resulting from a collaborative project with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria; sponsored by the UK Overseas Development Administration.