High Density Plantings of Coffee (II) Adaptive Changes in Some Plant Characteristics

Abstract

Plants adapt to their hahitats by bringing in same marphalagical and physialagical changes. Variations leaf pwpeI1uies represent distinct adaptations to the prevailing light environmental and seasan. Goadohild et ai (1972) has shawn that same ,tale rant species invest more assimilate the formation Of chlorophyl for the light harvesting system and have a Iarge specific leaf area, whereas in "sun" plants (shade intolerant species) the increase is much smaller (Bjarkman et aI, 1972). Similarly there has been several reparts of lower chlolophyI a: b ratio in shade grown plants 'than sun plants af the same species=(Lewandawska and Jarvis, 1977). Other authars have reparted lawer dry weight shade plants (Ludlaw et ai, 1974), lawer epiticular wax with decreasing temperature and radiant energy (Wihitecross and Armstrong 1972; Baker, 1974).