Dry matter of swedes. I

Extract

1. Sampling of single roots of swedes by means of cores is subject to errors of various kinds, of which one, due to the asymmetrical growth of the root in a north-south direction, has previously been overlooked. Cores should be taken horizontally in a north-south direction.

2. In the case of plants left standing in the field there is a marked decrease in dry matter content during winter and spring; this is presumably due to movement of food-material from the root into the developing flowering shoot. A detailed study of the metabolism of the swede during the winter is urgently needed, if only for the practical purpose of determining the “metabolic turning-point,” which is the ideal time at which to determine potential dry matter content.

3. The fresh weight of a core is a function of the weight of the whole root (except in Tankard swedes).

4. There is a well-marked negative correlation (autumn – ·66, spring – ·51) between dry matter content and fresh weight of core, and hence between dry matter content and size of root.

5. For one pair of strains of common parentage clear evidence of the inheritance of dry matter content has been obtained. In other instances the figures are inconclusive.