HORMONAL INDUCED TRANSFORMATION OF THE TUBEROUS PURPLE NUTSEDGE (CYPERUS-ROTUNDUS L) INTO A TUBER-LESS PHENOTYPE

Spraying benzyladenine and gibberellic acid over sprouting shoots of C yperus rotundus L. did not adversely affect their aboveground developm ent. However, the underground shoots (rhizomes) modified their potenti ally positive gravitropic growth response into a negative one, to beco me aboveground shoots. Under such conditions, virtually no tubers, the dominant propagating and perennating units of C. rotundus, were forme d. Field experiments, where growth regulator treatments were followed by application of reduced rates of herbicide, open new possibilities t o facilitate the control of this noxious weed.