Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217259
Title: Growth and Reproduction of Bengal Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) in Response to Drought Stress

Author
item Webster, Theodore
item GRAY, T - UNIV OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Weed Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Webster, T.M., Grey, T.L. 2008. Growth and Reproduction of Bengal Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) in Response to Drought Stress. Weed Science. 56:561-566.

Interpretive Summary: Bengal dayflower (also known as tropical spiderwort) is an important weed species in Africa and Asia, especially in irrigated fields. Listed on the US Federal Noxious Weed List, Bengal dayflower has rapidly gained significance in crop production in the Southeast US. Soils in the Coastal Plain of the Southeast US are typically coarse textured (i.e. loamy sands or sandy loams) with low amounts of organic matter (<1%) and limited water-holding ability. Due to the recent and rapid adaptation of this weed to agricultural production in the Southeast US, little information exists concerning the physiological responses of Bengal dayflower to drought stress. Studies were initiated to evaluate the relationship between soil moisture and growth rate of Bengal dayflower in comparison with cotton and determine how reproduction through aerial and subterranean seed production is affected. Bengal dayflower had 3.5-times more above ground biomass relative to cotton. At the conclusion of the study, there was an inverse linear relationship between above ground biomass and duration of drought stress for cotton and Bengal dayflower, with a steeper rate of reduction for Bengal dayflower than for cotton. Effective management of Bengal dayflower may involve irrigation regimes which supply only the water needed for cotton production, as excess water will be utilized by Bengal dayflower.

Technical Abstract: Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the drought stress tolerance of Bengal dayflower and cotton. The response of seedlings of both species to weekly irrigation treatments of 188, 375, 750, and 1500 ml per pot was determined, where 1500 ml approximated field capacity. Also, the influence of duration of drought stress at intervals between 7 and 56 d on early growth and development of cotton and Bengal dayflower was evaluated. Bengal dayflower had 3.5-times more above ground biomass relative to cotton. However, the rate of Bengal dayflower biomass accumulation was suppressed more (t=3.00) than cotton as irrigation volume was reduced. Bengal dayflower aerial spathes were 4.6-times more numerous than subterranean spathes. However, rate of aerial seed production was reduced in a linear manner with water volume more than was rate of subterranean seed production (t=4.09). At the conclusion of the study, there was an inverse linear relationship between above ground biomass and duration of drought stress for cotton and Bengal dayflower, with a steeper rate of reduction (t=6.48) for Bengal dayflower than for cotton. Effective management of Bengal dayflower may involve irrigation regimes which supply only the water needed for cotton production, as excess water will be utilized by Bengal dayflower.