Plasticity in Morphology and Biomass Allocation in Cynodon dactylon, a Grass Species Forming Stolons and Rhizomes

Abstract

Stolons and rhizomes may be important for the placement of leaves and roots in new microhabitats (foraging), as well as for the storage of resources. In a species which forms both types of structures, such as Cynodon dactylon, both such functions could be combined in a single structure, or rhizomes and stolons could exert different functions. We examine these functions in C. dactylon, by investigating plasticity in morphology and biomass allocation in response to variation in light and nutrient availability. Both stolon and rhizome branching intensities were reduced in response to lower light and lower nutrient levels. Stolons and their internodes elongated greatly under lower light levels, but slightly shorter under lower nutrient levels (...)