Growth and metabolism of Typha species in relation to cutting treatments

• Published in: Aquatic botany Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 321 - 334
• Main Authors: Sale, P.J.M., Wetzel, Robert G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.1983
• Subjects: Freshwater; Typha angustifolia; Typha latifolia
• ISSN: 0304-3770; 1879-1522
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3770(83)90001-3

Container and field experiments, in which Typha latifolia L. and Typha angustifolia L. were cut either above or below the water level, were conducted to determine the physiological basis for reports that the latter treatment was more effective as a control measure. In containers, measurements of oxygen concentrations within the aerenchyma of the rhizome both with an oxygen electrode and by gas chromatography showed that oxygen could diffuse very readily to plant parts growing in an anoxic environment if there was a small amount of leaf or cut plant stem growing above the water level. When all shoots were cut below water, the oxygen in submersed plant parts was rapidly consumed and anaerobic respiration resulted in the production of ethanol. Lactate or elevated malate levels were not found. The below-water biomass decayed rapidly under these conditions and the plants had a much lower regenerative ability than plants cut above water where oxygen continued to reach the roots and rhizomes. In the field, three cuts during the growing season below water were sufficient to kill nearly all the underwater biomass; similar cuts above water reduced the total biomass compared with uncut plants, but much of the underwater biomass remained healthy and able to regenerate.