The effects of temperature on the vegetative growth of six tropical legume species

Abstract

Six tropical legume species, viz. Phaseolus lathyroides, P. atropurpureus, Desmodium uncinatum, D. intortum, D. sandwicense, and Glycine javanica, were grown in controlled environments. At the first harvest (14 days) dry weight of seedling tops was linearly related to initial seed dry weight. Subsequent growth at the lowest temperatures, 15/10°C and 18/13°C (day/night) was severely curtailed, and plants developed abnormally. The optimum temperature for growth of all the species was in the range of 30/25 ± 3°C, which is generally lower than values reported for the tropical grasses, and higher than those for the temperate legumes and grasses.