Nidhi Chaudhary and Rup Narayan
Department of Botany, I. P. (PG) College, Bulandshahr- 203001, Uttar Pradesh
E–mail-nidhi.c06@gmail.com
Abstract: Billy goat weed Ageratum conyzoides was investigated for its biomass allocation pattern and plant traits across two contrasting soil resource regimes in a peri-urban region in Indian dry tropics. The plant populations at low resource (LR) site showed higher root length, biomass of root, leaf and reproductive parts and their mass fractions. High resource (HR) sit e showed higher shoot length and stem mass fraction. Plasticity indices of root mass fraction, root:shoot length and biomass ratios were higher at LR site. Phenotypic plasticity was also higher here. Biomass allocation to different components varied with ontogeny and soil resource states. Higher reproductive and root allocation by Ageratum conyzoides at LR site can be attributed to its successful invasive character in this region.
Keywords: Biomass allocation, Plant component biomass, Phenotypic plasticity, Bulandshahr
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