Sago Pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) Tuber Size Influences Its Response to Fluridone Treatment

In greenhouse experiments, sago pondweed plants were grown from three different size classes of tubers and treated with four levels of fluridone. Results indicate that although fluridone significantly reduced mean plant weight, the extent of the reduction in weight depended on the size of tuber from which the plant was grown. Mean plant weight was greater for plants exposed to fluridone (up to 0.5 mg/L) for 7 days, if the plants were initially from larger tubers (51 to 60 or 101 to 200 vs. 11 to 20 mg fresh weight). Mean plant length and the number of ramets/plant were affected in a similar manner. The results underscore the importance of specifying the size of tubers used in growth studies and contribute to understanding of the roles that biological factors play in regulating aquatic plant response to herbicide treatment.