Re: AR: SATAN'S MISTRESS was CULT: Arilbred Dormancy
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] AR: SATAN'S MISTRESS was CULT: Arilbred Dormancy
- From: o*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 12:35:54 EDT
In a message dated 7/3/2002 10:49:48 AM Central Daylight Time,
donald@eastland.net writes:
> I dormancy may be a two-edged sword. For the grasshoppers
> and drought, it has been a boon to the plants. Currently,
> with a lot of rain, I wonder if I won't lose many dormant
> ones to rot since they won't have any means of losing the
> moisture the rhizomes collect.
>
From reading some of the past aril posts I expect arils would be classified
botanically as xerophites (plants able to live in very dry places). Xeophetic
species do not necessarily have a lower transpiration rate during periods of
ample moisture. One critical characteristic of xerophites is the ability to
reduce transpiring surfaces (leaves going dormant). When the leaves go
dormant I would expect arils have reached the proper equilibrium that allows
them to do so. Unless other factors (light, temperature etc.) reach favorable
levels to initiate new growth it would seem doubtful that their root system
would initiate uptake of additional water and create conditions favorable to
rot. Assuming of course the dormancy was not grasshopper induced.
I would expect a higher than normal incidence of rot in the TBI's where their
ability to transpire moisture was suddenly interrupted by the grasshoppers
feasting.
My post is pure speculation derived from a very limited knowledge base. It
may or may not turn out to be prophetic. But I sure like to guess.
Kindly keep me advised of the rot situation,
Bill Burleson 7a/b
Old South Iris Society
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