Authors:S. Dilip, L.B. Singha, Ch. Sadananda, M.L. Khan
Abstract:Gregarious flowering in Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees and Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz, the predominant bamboo species of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram states respectively, was followed by the death of entire bamboo stands. Valid scientific reasons behind such critical phenomenon are not available. In order to determine the possible role of nutrients resulting in death of these bamboo species; nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in the culms of pre-flowering, flowering and postflowering phases were analysed. Concentration of culm nutrient contents during flowering and postflowering phases varied significantly when compared to normally growing bamboos under vegetative (pre-flowering) phase. Higher values of culm N, Pand K were recorded in the pre-flowering phase in both bamboo species. A significant decline in these three nutrients was observed from vegetative phase to reproductive phase and was found to be lowest in senescence phase. Such rapid reduction in concentration of essential macro nutrients during the flowering (reproductive) and post-flowering (senescence) phases could be one of the key reasons responsible for the post- flowering death in these bamboo species
Keywords:Gregarious flowering, senescence, culm, nutrient translocation