Thigmomorphogenesis of Root-Crop Growth Due to Drip and Mist Irrigation

Abstract

Thigmomorphogenesis is a plant growth response caused by mechanical stimuli from outside of the plant body. The mechanical stimulations used in this study was irrigation methods, namely drip and mist. The objectives of this study were to determine the morphology of tubers, to compare the growth rates, as well as to determine the most suitable irrigation for respected crops. The parameters observed in this study were leaves number, root depth, plant volume, root and crown weight, number of tubers, and the ratio of crown and tuber dry weight. Considering the parameters, the different sweet potato, jicama, and onion responded differently to each irrigation method. Finally, drip irrigation was recommended for sweet potato while mist irrigation was recommended for jicama and onion.