Root competition between two strains of Spinacia oleracea. I. Pattern and processes.
Abstract
Competition between the 2 strains was studied in pot experiments. It was found that F1 Selma (FS) suppressed Early Hybrid (EH) in mixed culture, although both attained about the same size when grown alone. The competitive effect was due almost entirely to below-ground competition, especially toward the end of the growth period when the bigger FS prevented EH from attaining the increased growth rate of which it was capable when growing alone. Some of the advantage of FS over EH may be due to the former's greater embryonic capital and this advantage could be eliminated by postponing its introduction into the mixture by several days.