Phyllochron and Tillering Behavior Studies in Grass family (Gramineae): A Review

The vegetative development in gramineae is characterized by the regular initiation and appearance of successive leaves. Phyllochron is the period of time between the emergence of one phytomer (a set of tiller, leaf, and root which emerges from the base of the plant) and the emergence of next other hands interval between similar growth stages of successive leaves on the same culm, has been used extensively to describe and understand development of rice plant and other grass family. A phyllochron is not a thing but rather a period of time, 5 days at best but usually longer, 12 phyllochrons before the plant begins initiating panicles and starts its reproductive phase. The first tiller off the main stem appears at the fourth phyllochron. The first tiller appeared when the third leaf was completely expanded and the emergence of the fourth leaf tip was initiated in the main stem. The rate of leaf initiation on the apical meristem and the rate of leaf appearance above the pseudostem or whorl are primarily controlled by biotic and abiotic factors that reflect on the growth and yield of crop plants.