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Physiological Studies with Prickly Pear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

P. N. Chow ,
O. C. Burnside  and
T. L. Lavy
P. N. Chow
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln Department of Agronomy, Engineering Research, Deere and Co., Moline, Illinois
O. C. Burnside
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska
T. L. Lavy
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska
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Abstract

Opuntia laevis or O. polyacantha (prickly pear) plants exhibited little water loss, exceptional viability, low nutrient requirements for growth, slight photosynthetic activity, slow translocation, and low transpiration rate as compared with corn or soybean plants. The limited number of stomata, thick wax cuticle, and high water binding ability of cell mucilage in prickly pear are largely responsible for the aforementioned physiological characteristics. These studies show that prickly pear pads, which are modified stems, are not efficient organs for metabolic activities. Water extracts of prickly pear tissue applied to corn seeds were found to induce pronounced growth stimulation of corn seedlings.

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Type
Research Article
Information
Weeds , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , January 1966 , pp. 58 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © 1966 Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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