Retención de humedad en hojas separadas de la planta de cártamo

Abstract

The estimation of retained moisture in the cut leaves of a culture is a useful tech nique to classify the varieties according to its degree of resistance to drought. In this research 16 varieties of carthamus were assayed for its capacity of moisture retention in the cut leaves, considering the inheritability in an ample sense, and to evaluate phenotypical corre lations. 

One seed of each genotype was sowed in a black polyethylene bag 120 cm in length and 30 cm of diameter. An experimental design of random.blocks with three replications was applied. The experimental parcel included a bag with two plants per treatment and replication. Forty five days after growth five leaves per plant were cut. The fresh weight from the leaves was recorded. Later, the leaves were placed in a drying room, on a table, to a temperature of about 20 to 22°C. the leaves weight was recorded after 24 and 48 hours, and finally the constant dry weight, after placing them in a furnace to 70°C, for 24 hours.

The variance analysis showed highly significant differences for fresh and dry sprout weight, initial moisture content in the leaves, humidity after 24 and 48 hours, after drying of the leaves, revealing a considerable variability between the studied genotypes. The dry weight of the sprouts varied between 18,8 and 26,9 g per plant, with an average of 23,1 g. Genotypes Alhuey, Kino 76 and Gila produced more dry matter per plant. The leaves of the varieties Noroeste-VF84, CVF36, Washington, Saffola 208, Humaya 65, 70 River and Jerusalem CM 1136 lost around 98 % of moisture after 48 hours after cut. The varieties Kino 76, Egypt CM 1239, Gila, Aceitera and Pakistan CM 799 retained a greater percentage of moisture and showed resistance to transpiration. The hereditability in an ample sense varied between 70,6 and 96,7 % for all the studied traits.