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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250043
Title: Effect of shade on growth of benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis).

Author
item BRECKE, B.J. - University Of Florida
item Webster, Theodore
item PARTRIDGE-TELENKO, D. - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Brecke, B., Webster, T.M., Partridge-Telenko, D. 2010. Effect of shade on growth of benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis). Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts. P-B-49.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Benghal dayflower (a.k.a. tropical spiderwort) is an exotic invasive weed that poses a major threat to agricultural production in the US. Benghal dayflower is listed as a federal noxious weed and is identified among the world's worst weeds, negatively affecting 25 crops in 29 countries. Studies were conducted at the University of Florida and USDA-ARS, Tifton to determine the effect of shade on growth and development of Benghal dayflower. Seed were germinated in an incubator and then planted in pots in the greenhouse during late June. Once the seedlings had emerged, pots with one seedling per pot were moved outdoors to small shade houses and were exposed to 0, 30%, 60% or 95% shade for the remainder of the growing season. Plant height, aerial and subterranean spathe number, aerial and subterranean seed number, leaf area and biomass of stems, leaves and roots were determined at 3 wk intervals. Plants exposed to 95% shade grew little and most plants in this shade regime died by 63 days after study initiation. Stem biomass was reduced by 10% under 30% shade and 34% under 60% shade compared to full sunlight, leaf biomass by 35% under 30% shade and 45% under 60% shade and root biomass by 40% under 30% shade and 52% under 60% shade when measured 105 days after study initiation. Aerial seed appeared to mature earlier under full sunlight compared to the plants growing under shade. In another study, Benghal dayflower seed were placed in mesh bags with soil and buried in the field. One yr after burial, seed viability decreased by 30%.