Abstract
“Bulk density” and “dry-matter content” are useful indices of dry-matter accumulation in plant organs. A theoretical equation describing the relationship between these two indices was put forward. To examine the reliability of this equation, the seasonal changes of these two indices were investigated in the leaves and stems of different ages ofAucuba japonica. In each organ both indices varied seasonally almost parallel to each other, but the seasonal changes of dry-matter content were less obvious than those of bulk density. The observed bulk density was always larger than that calculated from the observed dry-matter content by the theoretical equation. A drying experiment showed that this discrepancy was caused by the decrement of the volume of the plant material by water loss during the period from the weight measurement to the volume measurement. When the water loss was negligible, the equation described well the relationships between the two indices of the experimental materials. It was also shown that this equation was useful for the estimation of the amount of air space in plant materials.
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Yokoi, Y., Kishida, A. On the relationship between two indices (“Bulk density” and “dry-matter content”) of dry-matter accumulation in plant organs. Bot Mag Tokyo 98, 335–345 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488499
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488499