Morphogenetic and structural determinants of plant regrowth after defoliation

Abstract

Responses of forage plants to defoliation can be delineated at two levels: physiological responses and morphological responses. Physiological responses are generally defined as occurring over short time-scales, whereas morphological responses are generally considered as being long-t<;rm. The extent to which physiological and morphological responses influence pasture characteristics and production depends on the defoliation regime, and the balance obtained between the supply and demand of growth resources by plants. Where defoliation is relatively infrequent and lax, plants may maintain balanced growth of root and shoot purely through short­term physiological responses. However, as defoliation severity increases, morphological adjustments are needed to ensure homeostatic, whole-plant growth. The adaptability of forage species to various points on the continuum of defoliation pressure from lenient to severe depends on their inherent morphological and physiological characteristics. We concentrate on morphogenetic and structural determinants of plant regrowth following defoliation, drawing out the important linkages with the physiological responses. We examine the relationships between plant morphogenesis and sward structure, placing particular emphasis on phcnotypic plasticity as a process whereby plant and population structure can alter to maintain homeostatic growth in response to variation in defoliation management. The imporlnnce of meristem positioning within the sward and of meristem activity, interacting with defoliation management, as determinants of plant production and persistence is discussed. Relationships between plant morphogenesis, herbage growth dynamics and barvestable herbage production are examined and we identify the collection of fundamental physiological and morphological information for a wider array of forage species as an important research goal for improving the productivity and sustainability of the world's grasslands.

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