DESENVOLVIMENTO DE NÓDULOS E PLANTAS DE CAUPI (Vigna unguiculata) POR MÉTODOS DESTRUTIVO E NÃO DESTRUTIVO

Abstract

This work was conducted in order to evaluate the procedures for analysis of nodule development through non-destructive and destructive methods in the same plant set. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with cowpea grain legume. Plants were weekly measured, from seven days old to physiological maturity, for evaluation of plant height and leaf area, and to obtain digitized images of all the visible part of the rooting systems. Weekly, a plant was also collected from each block for destructive determination of plant and nodule development.Nodules area, length and diameter were measured for those hand-separated from the root system and for those visible on the vessels side. For area, length and diameter of the nodules, initially a escriptive analysis was conducted in each point and next it was determined the average, median, maximum, minimum and the sum for each variable. Both variables, leaf area and plant height, were studied by regression analysis being considered as dependent variables and plant age as independent variable. Independent regressions were conducted for data obtained through the traditional destructive methods. Results have indicated a general concordance for development curves obtained by destructive and non-destructive methods, especially regarding nodule appearing and age in which the maximum value for each variable was found.