Abstract

ARGUELLO, JA et al. Anatomophysiological modifications induced by solid agricultural waste (vermicompost) in lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.). Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2013, vol.82, n.2, pp.289-295. ISSN 1851-5657.

The objective of this work was to analyze the impact of a vermicompost treatment on anatomical and physiological modifications related to assimilate partitioning and growth in lettuce seedlings. The results showed that vermicompost increased growth, which was most likely due to an increased activity of the ground meristem of the leaf blade. A greater height and number of chlorenchyma layers were observed in the leaf blade. This was related to an increase in the photosynthetic activity, expressed by an increase in the net assimilation rate. Vermicompost also showed an effect at the procambium level, producing an increase in the number of vessel members, and in the phloem area, which was related to a greater eficiency in the transfer of photoassimilates. This finding was connected with lower Effective Leaf Area Coeficients in the vermicompost treatment, which indicated the greater production efficiency and transfer of photoassimilates. The experimental evidence presented here showed that vermicompost showed effects at the levels of the ground meristem and procambium, producing anatomical modifications that increased biomass, and improved the distribution of photoassimilates and, consequently, the growth of plants under treatment.

Keywords : Sustainable management; Plant anatomy; Net Assimilation Rate; Plant growth; Assimilate partitioning; Vermicompost quality.

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