Morphophysiological features that module the competitive ability in the beggarticks populations

Abstract

The emergence, phenology, growth and morphology aspects, when evaluated together along life cycle can help to understand the feature of competitive ability and for an effective control of weeds. This was the aim in the study with beggarticks. Cypselae from plants of three populations occurring in citrus orchards from different places were harvested and subsequently sown in subsoil contained in jars and kept in a greenhouse. The emergence was evaluated and was described aspects of the phenological and morphological cycle. The relative growth (%) was determined for the height and diameter of plants. The higher emergence was from cypselae of population 3 (52.9%) with the first pair of eophylls appearing seven days after sowing, and after 44 day appeared trilobed metaphylls. The plants growth was highestin population 3. At 70 days the first capitulum was formed and after 80 days the lateral inflorescences can arise. The fruiting was from 86 days until 152 days. The seedling control can be done in the first 20 days, and in order to avoid new seeds in the soil it can be done until 70 days. In general, beggarticks populations with greater competitive ability show higher emergence and growth and extension of reproductive period.