The second youngest fully?expanded leaf on the main tiller of vegetative Themeda triandra plants was exposed to 14CO2. Thereafter, quantitative analysis of partitioning, storage and remobilization after defoliation of 14C?labclled assimilate was conducted in serially?harvested plants over a 27?day period. In undefoliatcd plants, 50% of assimilated 14C was ultimately lost through respiration, while that remaining in the plant reached its final destination within two days of assimilation. A small, but significant, portion of assimilated 14C was invested into long?term storage in roots and stem bases. These reserves were remobilized after defoliation, and a portion of the remobilized 14C was incorporated into new growth. Partially?defoliated plants regrew more rapidly than totally?defoliated plants, but they both made equal demands on 14C reserves. Reserve depletion took place from both roots and stem bases.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.