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Biology of Rhynchospora corymbosa in Outdoor Conditions

Article · December 2015

DOI: 10.7593/abm/4.3.72

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 1 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83
2 http://dx.doi.org/10.7593/abm/4.3.72
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5 Biology of Rhynchospora corymbosa in Outdoor Conditions
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10 Sahar Ahmad Al Haj Taha • Mohamed Amar Naqqiuddin • Hishamuddin Omar
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17 Received: 19 September 2015 / Accepted: 16 December 2015
18 © Acta Biologica Malaysiana 2015
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22 Abstract We studied the biology of 58 greenhouse conditions and in the field;
23 Rhynchospora corymbosa by collecting samples 59 Measurement of culms leaves produced by R.
24 from Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 60 corymbosa grown in greenhouse conditions;
25 and pond adjacent to RESB (Recycle Energy 61 Culms leave length (culms height) in
26 Sendirian Berhad). Plants samples were brought 62 greenhouse conditions and Culms leave width
27 to the laboratory and placed in water tank until 63 in greenhouse conditions. The germination
28 the commencement of experiments. Study on the 64 protocol for R. corymbosa has been
29 plant development from germination to maturity 65 established. Other than specific requirements,
30 of R. corymbosa in greenhouse was 66 planting through rhizomes is highly
31 accomplished and later the growth in field and 67 recommended. This plant can spread and
32 under greenhouse conditions was compared. The 68 colonize new areas without relying much on
33 variables observed in this study include: Water 69 the seeds.
34 quality utilized for plant growth study; Plant 70
35 heights propagated from rhizome; Width of 71 Keywords Rhynchospora corymbosa •
36 leaves propagated from rhizome; Number of 72 greenhouse • outdoor condition • rhizomes •
37 plant leaves propagated from rhizome; 73 germination
Comparative study of R. corymbosa 74
development in the field and greenhouse 75
condition; Plant heights in both greenhouse 76 INTRODUCTION
conditions and in the field; Width of plant leaves 77
in greenhouse conditions and the field; Number 78 Rhynchospora is a large genus of sedge family
of plant leaves in greenhouse conditions and the 79 found all around the world, but chiefly in
field; Flowering time in the greenhouse 80 tropical America (Florida). Some species are
conditions and in the field; Number of culms in 81 common relatively in dry places in the Malay
82 Peninsula and one of these species is
38 83 Rhynchospora wallichiana, which is known as
39 Taha S. A. A. H. • Naqqiuddin M. A. • Omar H. 84 button grass or 'rumput butang' in Singapore
40 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, 85 (Burkill 1966). Rhynchospora corymbosa is a
41 Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, 86 widespread and common species which
42 Selangor, Malaysia. 87 belongs to the Cyperaceae family that grows
43 88 along streams, on the lake shores, pools and
44 Omar H. ( ) 89 rivers, often found in shallow water in swamps
45 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, 90 and rice fields and also tolerant of light shade
Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, 91 (Cook 1996). Cyperaceae is one of ten largest
46
Selangor, Malaysia.
47 92 families of flowering plants and is ranked the
Email: hishamom@upm.edu.my
9 93 seventh largest family in the angiosperms and

www.mybioacta.com
A publication of the Ecological Association of Malaysia
 1 73 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83
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21 Fig. 1. Map of the world showing the distribution of Rhynchospora corymbosa around the earth (Source: http://www.
discoverlife.org/nh/maps/Plantae/Monocotyledoneae/Cyperaceae/Rhynchospora/map_of_Rhynchospora_corymbosa.jpg)
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24 third largest family in the monocotyledons, with 58 like Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton,
25 8% of the total species after Orchidaceae 34%, 59 Rhynchospora holoschoenoides (Rich) Herter,
26 and Poaceae 17 % (Goetghebeur 1998). The 60 Rhynchospora submarginata Kük, and
27 family was first described by Jussieu (1789). The 61 Rhynchospora wightiana (Nees) Steud were
28 family was organized by Goetghebeur (1998) 62 cited as rice agriculture weeds in Eastern
29 into four subfamilies and 14 tribes based on a 63 Hemisphere (Kern 1974; Simpson and Inglis
30 combination of characters from flower, 64 2001). The plant is characteristically robust,
31 inflorescence, and embryo morphology. The 65 glabrous, strongly tillering perennial with short
32 family of grass-like plants accounts 117 genera 66 rhizome but without stolons and measures
33 and 5, 561 species distributed all over the world 67 about 60-150 cm tall. The stem is tufted and
34 (Govaerts et al. 2006). It's richer in temperate 68 stout, obtusely trigonous, leafy, smooth or
35 regions (Keng 1969). They are relatively 69 scabrid at the angles upwards. The leaves are
36 cosmopolitan in distribution and at an occasion 70 rather stiff, linear, acute and scabrid by minute
37 in Antarctic main land (Simpson et al. 2011). It 71 bristles at the margins and on midrib below,
38 is also found in lowlands, often rooted in shallow 72 30-60 × 1-2 cm; arise from the base and also
39 water or on floating mats of vegetation of 73 along the stem.
40 swamps, margins of creeks and rivers, shallow 74 The plant is distributed in Malaysia,
41 canals, drainage ditches, seasonally flooded 75 Philippine, Australia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,
42 savannas, margins of agricultural fields, pastures, 76 Gabon, Chad, Liberia, Gambia, Ghana, Sudan,
43 rice fields, secondary forest, mangrove strand, 77 Porto Rico, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin,
44 secondary vegetation, and disturbed areas 78 Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African
45 (Strong 2006). In a study, Adekanmbi et al. 79 Republic, China, Colombia, The Democratic
46 (2009) enumerated 55 individuals in 900 m2 at 80 Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, El
47 three localities of mangrove communities in 81 Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India,
48 South-Western Nigeria. 82 Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi,
49 Rhynchospora is recognized by the 83 Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Panama, Rwanda,
50 conspicuous style persistent on the achene in 84 South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
51 beak form (Mohlenbrock 2005). Karl (2002) 85 Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela,
52 mentioned that Rhynchospora is a cosmopolitan 86 Republic of Bolivarian, Viet Nam, Zambia and
53 genus of more than 250 species most of which 87 Zimbabwe (Fig. 1). In Malaysia, six species
54 inhabit wet, acidic soils. This genus has a little 88 were recorded with shape of inflorescence
55 economic importance, even though most the 89 which had significant differences between
56 species of Rhynchospora are considered weed 90 various species while the structure of the
57 only secondarily or occasionally. Thus species 91 spikelet is much the same in all (Henderson
 1 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83 74
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25 Fig. 2. Stem and rhizome of Rhynchospora corymbosa inside a poly bags.
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27 1954). Rhynchospora corymbosa is usually 58 plants including the rhizomes and seeds were
28 found on swamps, contaminated ponds, and 59 brought to the laboratory for observation or
29 rice-farms and in or near standing water. It is 60 served as planting materials. The plants
30 most frequent in sunny habitats with wet, acidic 61 samples were placed in water tank until the
31 soils. Karl (2002) reported that in marshes and 62 commencement of the experiment. The water
32 savannas, Rhynchospora might be the dominant 63 qualities were measured in situ using
33 form of vegetation. Ridley (1907) reported that 64 multipurpose meter for pH, dissolve oxygen,
34 the genus consist of 188 species distributed in 65 turbidity and conductivity.
35 the tropical and temperate regions. Kern (1974) 66
36 has mentioned that the 12 Malesian species 67 Propagation of plant from rhizome
37 Rhynchospora corymbosa and Rhynchospora 68
38 rugosa inhabit the tropics and subtropics. This 69 In preliminary works for propagation study,
39 paper highlights overall observations on the plant 70 twelve weeks study was conducted from 11th
40 development of R. corymbosa from germination 71 of September to 28th of November 2010 at the
41 to maturity grown under greenhouse condition to 72 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,
42 be compared with ones grown in the field. 73 Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang,
43 74 Selangor. The soil-planting medium was
44 75 prepared in Ladang 2, UPM Serdang. Standard
45 MATERIALS AND METHOD 76 soil mixture comprising top soil, organic
46 77 materials and sand at ratio 3:2:1 respectively
47 Sample collection and observation 78 (Mohd Roseli et al. 2012). Twenty-eight
48 79 replicates from young R. corymbosa plants
49 Plant samples were collected from unpolluted 80 were prepared and transplanted into plastic
50 swamp areas near the roadside of Faculty of 81 poly bags (16 × 16 cm), each with 5 kg of soil
51 Engineering UPM Serdang; UPM Golf Club; 82 planting medium. The stems were cut to height
52 Bukit Expo Selangor and pond adjacent to RESB 83 of 7 cm from the bottom leaving only roots and
53 (Recycle Energy Sendirian Berhad). 84 the rhizome in the poly bags (Fig. 2). The
54 Rhynchospora corymbosa plants collected from 85 plants were placed in open and sunny place for
55 the edge of the swamps and extracted from its 86 observation and the growth parameters were
56 habitat by using hoe and scoop. All parts of the 87 recorded weekly for 12 weeks to make sure the
57 88 plant actually grow from rhizome. The growth
 1 75 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83
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3 Table 1. Parameters of three types of water media used for plant growth.
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15 parameters were the length of plant leaves, the 58 width of leaves, number of culms and number
16 width of the plant leaves and the number of the 59 of leaves per plant and the inflorescence time.
17 leaves. The width of leaves measured at the 60 The experiment lasted for 16 weeks.
18 widest part of the leaves, recorded weekly. 61
19 Number of plant leaves was measured and 62
20 calculated from the base of new plant that 63 RESULTS
21 emerges out from the rhizome. 64
22 65 Water quality used for plant growth study
23 Comparative study of R. corymbosa growth in 66
24 field and greenhouse conditions 67 The water quality for plant growth study is
25 68 shown in Table 1. Water conductivity was
26 Eighteen samples of R. corymbosa were 69 0.0065 ms/cm for reverse osmosis water (RO)
27 randomly collected from swamp area near 70 and 0.161 ms/cm for swamp water at swamp
28 Faculty of Engineering, UPM. Plant height were 71 area at Faculty of Engineering. Salinity of
29 measured, number of culms and inflorescence 72 water was 0.00 ppt for reverse osmosis water
30 were counted. Humidity, temperature at mid day 73 (RO) and 0.07 ppt for swamp area at Faculty of
31 and light intensity were measured using 74 Engineering. The water pH was 7.47 for
32 multipurpose meter. Another eighteen samples of 75 reverse osmosis water (RO) and 7.25 for
33 R. corymbosa was collected from the greenhouse 76 swamp area at Faculty of Engineering. The
34 of Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, 77 dissolve oxygen (DO) was 4.14 mg/L for
35 UPM and propagated from rhizome planted in 78 reverse osmosis water (RO) and 3.12 mg/L for
36 poly bags with standard soil mixture comprising 79 swamp area at Faculty of Engineering.
37 of top soil, organic materials and sand at ratio 80
38 3:2:1, respectively (Mohd Roseli et al. 2012). 81 Height of plants propagated from rhizome
39 Each of the four poly bags were placed inside 82
40 rectangular plastic container full of water to keep 83 The mean of the plants height is presented in
41 the soil water saturated inside the greenhouse. 84 (Fig. 3). Shoots started to emerge and grow
42 Plant height were measured, number of culms 85 from week two and increase rapidly in height
43 and number of inflorescence were counted. 86 from week 3 to week 7, the mean of plant
44 Humidity, temperature at mid day and light 87 height was 25 ± cm. From week 8 to 12, the
45 intensity were measured by using multipurpose 88 growth slows down, reaching 32 cm at the end
46 meter. 89 of week 12. In the last 4 weeks, the overall
47 90 increase in height only 7 cm. The height in the
48 Study on plant development from germination 91 earlier weeks was registering 25 cm in height
49 to maturity in greenhouse 92 from week 3 to week 7.
50 93
51 Forty seedlings of R. corymbosa were transferred 94 Width of leaves propagated from rhizome
52 from germination trays to plastic pots and then 95
53 put in rectangular plastic container full of water 96 The mean of leaves width is shown in Fig. 4.
54 to keep the soil water saturated inside the 97 Similar trend as plant height, the width of
55 greenhouse to study plant cycle. Plant parameter 98 leaves increased steadily from week 2 and
56 measured were plant leaves length, 99 reached maximum width at 1.0 cm on week 12.
57 100
 1 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83 76
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17 Fig. 3. Average height of plant R. corymbosa starting from rhizomes for 12 weeks. The numbers of plants were 28, Error
18 bar indicates standard error (SE).
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38 Fig. 4. Average plant leaves' width of Rhynchospora corymbosa planted from rhizomes for 12 weeks, N=28. Error bar
39 indicates standard error (SE).
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55 Fig. 5. Average plant's leaves number of R. corymbosa starting from rhizomes for 12 weeks, N=28. Error bar indicates
56 standard error (SE).
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 1 77 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83
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3 Number of plant leaves propagated from 58 Width of plant leaves in greenhouse
4 rhizome 59 conditions and in the field
5 60
6 The mean number of plant leaves is shown in 61 In greenhouse conditions, width of plant leaves
7 Fig. 5. Number of leaves increased with growing 62 increase steadily from week 1 to week 13.
8 period from week 2 and reached 13 leaves 63 From week 13 onwards, little growth was also
9 number on week 12. Number of leaves emerging 64 observed, reaching its maximum width. The
10 from the rhizome reached up to 13 leaves at the 65 maximum width of plant leaves was 2 cm on
11 end of week 12. 66 week 16. In field width of plant leaves
12 67 increased steadily from week 1 to week 10.
13 Comparative study of R. corymbosa 68 From week 10 to week 13 onwards, there was
14 development in the field and greenhouse 69 no width increase observed. From 13 to week
15 condition 70 16 it reached its maximum leaves width at 2.2
16 71 cm that is 0.2 cm more than width of leave in
17 Development of eighteen samples of R. 72 greenhouse. Fig. 7 shows the linear
18 corymbosa randomly chosen from the swamp 73 relationship of width of plant leaves in the
19 area at Faculty of Engineering, UPM and 74 greenhouse and the field conditions with the
20 greenhouse of Department of Biology, Faculty of 75 duration of plant growth.
21 Science, UPM is shown in Table 2. The plant 76
22 height (n = 18) reached 146.5±0.661 cm, the 77 Number of plant leaves in greenhouse
23 mean number of culms achieved was 4.05±0.055 78 conditions and the field
24 per cluster and the mean number of 79
25 inflorescences was 3.44±0.014 in the field was 80 In greenhouse conditions, the number of plant
26 higher than the height of plant grown in the 81 leaves also increased as week progress from 10
27 greenhouse as the plant height (n = 18) was 82 leaves on week 1 reaching 32 leaves on week
28 127.03±0.572 cm, the mean number of culms 83 16. The number of plant leaves appear to be
29 were 3.83±0.029 per cluster and the mean 84 linear with time of growth (Fig. 8). Whereas in
30 number of inflorescences were 3.08±0.019 per 85 the field, the number of plant leaves also
31 cluster because R. corymbosa live better in 86 increased as week progress from 12 on week 1
32 scattered in the open field. The data indicated 87 reaching 38 leaves on week 16 exhibiting
33 plants in the field received adequate amount of 88 linear relationship. The plant growing in the
34 water resource, nutrients and light intensity. 89 fields have 6 more leaves than those grown in
35 90 greenhouse.
36 Plant height in greenhouse conditions and in 91
37 the field 92 Flowering time in the greenhouse conditions
38 93 and in the field
39 In the greenhouse conditions, plant leaves length 94
40 / height were increase steadily from week 1 to 95 In the greenhouse at week eight, after seedlings
41 week 13. From week 13 onwards, little growth 96 transferred, inflorescence of plants started to
42 was observed might be reaching its maximum 97 appear. The highest number of inflorescence
43 height. The maximum plant height was 140 cm 98 was 9 flowering plants shown on week 9. From
44 on week 16. In the field conditions plant height 99 week 8 to week 16, the number of
45 increased steadily from week 1 to week 16 and 100 inflorescence ranges from 1 to 7. This
46 reached maximum height of 170 cm on week 16. 101 observation suggested that plants reached
47 It appears that the plant height was about 30 cm 102 maturity after week 7 with the first appearance
48 taller in the field. The increase in plant height 103 of inflorescence, one flowering plant in week
49 showed linear relationship with the duration of 104 8. In the field, at week six from the beginning
50 plant growth. Linear relationship of plant height 105 of experiment, inflorescence of plants in the
51 in the greenhouse and the field conditions with 106 field started to appear and the number of
52 the duration of plant growth was described in 107 flowering plants was recorded weekly. The
53 (Fig. 6). 108 highest number of inflorescence was in week
54 109 8.
55 110
56 111
57 112
 1 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83 78
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3 Table 2. Development of R. corymbosa in the field conditions.
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33 Fig. 6. Average of plant height (cm) of R. corymbosa in the greenhouse and in the field. Error bar indicates standard error
34 (SE). (N=40 greenhouse plants; N=40 field plants).
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51 Fig. 7. Average of R. corymbosa leaves width in the greenhouse and the field (cm). (Error bar indicates standard error (SE)
52 (N=40 greenhouse plants; N=40 field plants)).
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18 Fig. 8. Average number of plant leaves of R. corymbosa in the greenhouse and the field (cm). Error bar indicates standard
19 error (SE) (N=40 greenhouse plants; N=40 field plants).
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35 Fig. 9. Average number of flowering plants per week of R. corymbosa in the greenhouse and the field (N=40 greenhouse
36 plants; N=40 field plants).
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55 Fig. 10. Number of culms of R. corymbosa produced in the greenhouse and in the field per week. (N=40 greenhouse plants;
56 N=40 field plants).
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3 In the field, at week six from the beginning of 58 and increased steadily reaching to 68 cm on
4 experiment, inflorescence of plants in the field 59 week 16 (Fig. 12). The mean of culm leaves
5 started to appear and the number of flowering 60 length increased sharply from 5 cm in week 4
6 plants was recorded weekly. The highest number 61 to 30 cm in week 5. From week 5 to week 16,
7 of inflorescence was in week 8 with 10 62 the mean of culm leaves length appeared linear
8 inflorescences. The number of inflorescence 63 with age.
9 ranges from 2 on week 6 to 3 on week 7. 64
10 Between week 9 and week 16 the number of 65 Culms leave width in greenhouse conditions
11 inflorescence ranges from 4 to 9 (Fig. 9). These 66 The culms leaves width in greenhouse ranged
12 observations suggested that in open field, plants 67 from 0.54 cm in week 4 to 1.16 in week 15.
13 mature 2 week earlier and produced more 68 This is about 0.8 less than the mean of width of
14 inflorescence than in the greenhouse. 69 mother plant leaves (Fig. 13).
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16 Number of culms in greenhouse conditions and 71
17 in the field 72 DISCUSSION
18 73
19 In the greenhouse, at week four after transferring 74 This study provides a sound protocol to
20 the seedlings to the greenhouse, new culms 75 propagate R. corymbosa under define culture
21 started to grow. The height of culms (leaves 76 conditions. R. corymbosa is a sun loving plant,
22 length), the width of leaves and the number of 77 which thrives well in moist or well-watered
23 culms per week are recorded weekly. The 78 environment (Bakar 2004). Therefore due to
24 number of culms forming ranges from 1 to 14. 79 this attribute, the biological imprint in this
25 The highest number of culms observed was 14 80 plant require high temperature and light
26 culms in week 12. At week 16, the total number 81 intensity to induce germination. In outdoor
27 of culms reaches 93. In the field at week three 82 conditions in the greenhouse, the temperature
28 after the beginning of the experiment, new culms 83 was 2-3 ºC. Perhaps the combination of light
29 started to appear. The number of culms emerging 84 intensity and temperature would trigger the
30 weekly was recorded weekly. The number of 85 germination. Due to this, the percentage of
31 forming culms ranges from 3 to week 8 was 5, 6, 86 germination in the greenhouse was
32 9, 8 and 16 respectively. Between week 9 to 87 significantly higher than inside the laboratory.
33 week 16, the number of forming culms was 10, 88 Therefore it can be speculated that in open
34 7, 6, 13, 11, 15, 8 and 12 respectively. The 89 field where the plant originated, the percentage
35 highest number of culms observed was 18 in 90 of germination could be higher because light in
36 week 8. The total number of culms was 144. The 91 open field was 1300-2000 μmolm-2s-1 and
37 culms appeared a week later in the greenhouse 92 temperature 7 ºC higher than in the
38 than those grown in the field. The numbers of 93 greenhouse. Higher temperature is necessary to
39 culms produced in greenhouse were lower than 94 increase metabolism inside the seed to initiate
40 grown in the field. The number of culms formed 95 germination (Gulzar and Khan 2001).
41 indicated how R. corymbosa spreading to new 96 Tetrazolium test were conducted to investigate
42 area (Fig. 10). 97 the viability of the seed, but there were no
43 98 reaction from the seed or any change in seed
44 Measurement of culms leaves produced by R. 99 color. This is might be seeds of Cyperaceae are
45 corymbosa grown in greenhouse conditions 100 achenes (which are small seed like fruits
46 101 containing just one seed each, which is hard to
47 In greenhouse conditions, the culms started to 102 open) (Reznicek et al. 2011).
48 emerge in week 4 (Fig. 11). The mean of number 103 The germination seems to occur
49 of leaves ranges from 3.8 culms in week 4 to 11 104 throughout the 15 week study period. From the
50 in week 16. The mean of number of culm leaves 105 results, the germination seemed to occur in two
51 emerging weekly seems to increase linearly with 106 distinct periods, week 2 to week 6 and week 8
52 growing period. 107 to week 15. This is understandable because in
53 108 the field, seed mature at different times. This is
54 Culms leave length (culms height) in 109 a reproductive strategy to ensure seed viability
55 greenhouse conditions 110 in varying weather conditions (Pearson et al.
56 111 2002). The results from this experiment
57 The culms leaves length was 5 cm on week four 112 suggested that the highest germination was in
 1 81 Acta Biologica Malaysiana (2015) 4(3): 72-83
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Fig. 11. Average number of culms leaves of R. corymbosa in greenhouse. Error bar indicates standard error (SE).
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37 Fig. 12. Average of culms leaves length (cm) of R. corymbosa, Error bar indicates standard error (SE).
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Fig. 13. Average culm leaves width (cm) of R. corymbosa grown in greenhouse Error bar indicates standard error (SE).
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3 week 3. Perhaps the best time to obtain young 58 As this plant is water loving, insuring enough
4 from germination for growth or other study was 59 water at all time is very important. Week 2 and
5 from week 3. As R. corymbosa is water-loving 60 week 3 seems to be the best time to obtain the
6 plant, ensuring the seed getting appropriate 61 germlings. Vegetative propagation using
7 moisture is crucial. Initial observation showed 62 rhizome was faster than through seeds.
8 that the results of vegetative propagation are not 63 Producing culms is a reproductive strategy to
9 doing well however, after further investigation 64 increase biomass and to spread plant to new
10 on the maintenance of vegetative propagation, it 65 areas. Other than the specific requirement,
11 was discovered that lack of water was the cause 66 planting through rhizomes is highly
12 of stunted growth. It is well documented that 67 recommended. For plant development,
13 lack of water caused plant stress and stunted 68 growing in the open field was more preferred
14 growth (Lawlor 2002; Vinocur and Altman 69 because the through potential of the plant
15 2005). Apart from depress growth; plant growth 70 growth can be observed. If the idea of
16 pattern seemed to be normal. Plant was showing 71 propagating R. corymbosa in leachate is the
17 the ability to increase in height, number of leaves 72 prime objective without concerning
18 and producing culms. However the growth was 73 inflorescence abnormality, then this practice is
19 too slow and there was much mortality to 74 highly recommended. The plant can spread and
20 precede the experiment. Later it was discovered 75 colonize new areas without relying on the
21 that the plant grown in poly bag did not get 76 seeds.
22 sufficient water as those grown naturally in the 77 Future study involving this plant
23 field which have reserve water supply from the 78 should look in details how the leachate’s
24 ground. In normal habitat, R. corymbosa lives in 79 concentration effecting plant productivity,
25 ponds and swamps where water is abundant. 80 which part of the plant accumulates the
26 A follow up study was conducted to 81 leachate, the efficiency of leachate remediation
27 compare R. corymbosa development in the 82 using this plant and the viability of seeds from
28 greenhouse and in the field seemed to support 83 plant exposed to leachate. As this plant is
29 the earlier study. In term of space, temperature, 84 considered as weeds in many part of the world,
30 light intensity and light availability, the field 85 using this plant as bioremediation agent for
31 provide ideal environment for growth. However 86 leachate is of no issue in Malaysia.
32 the plant seems to grow relatively well despite of 87
33 the disadvantage in term of lower temperature, 88 Acknowledgment Our deepest thanks go to Prof. Dr.
34 light intensity and water availability in the 89 Jambari Hj Ali for his guidance. I wish to thanks Nur
Azlin; Nur Nadia; Nur Aini and Alhaji Hamisu
35 greenhouse. This indicates that this plant has the 90
Maimusa for their encouragement. My thanks also go
36 ability to adapt to suboptimal growing 91 to Head of Department and the staff of the department
37 environment (Poorter and Perez-Soba 2001; 92 of Biology, Faculty of Science, UPM, Malaysia for
38 Warren and Adam 2004). Further studies proved 93 their material assistance. All my family members are
39 that the growth patterns were similar. Growths 94 also hereby acknowledged.
40 were better in the field in term of plant height, 95
41 number of leaves, leave width and number of 96
42 culms produce. Despite the growth pattern was 97 REFERENCES
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