Summary
Waterlogging pot-grown cowpea plants for eight days (24–32 from sowing) during the period of rapid vegetative growth when symbiotic nitrogen fixation rates are also increasing at maximum rate had effects on anatomical, morphological and physiological attributes of the legume system viz reduced nodule production and increased nodule cortication, stimulated adventitious root formation at, or near, the water table but killed older submerged roots and nodules, caused the main stem to become hypertrophic just above the water line, accelerated senescence of the lowermost leaves and delayed branch formation. After re-draining the rooting medium nodule growth and symbiotic fixation activity occurred at the expense of rapid recovery by the host plant. The physiological basis for these findings in relation to identifying cowpea cultivars more tolerant of waterlogged soils is discussed.
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One of a series of papers describing work undertaken in a collaborative project with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria, sponsored by the U.K. Ministry of Overseas Development.
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Hong, T.D., Minchin, F.R. & Summerfield, R.J. Recovery of nodulated cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) from waterlogging during vegetative growth. Plant Soil 48, 661–672 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145776
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145776