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Gas Exchange of Finger Millet Inflorescences¹

The growth and development of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] inflorescences is described. The respiration rate on a dry weight basis remained uniform until it decreased during the later stages of seed filling and drying. On an inflorescence basis, the respiratory production of CO₂ increased until the "mature" stage because of the large increase in the mass of the inflorescence with time.

The inflorescence was photosynthetically active at all stages and at "early an thesis" accounted for about 41% of the C reguirements. The photosynthetic contribution of C was less in both later and earlier stages of development. Inflorescences possessed low resistances to mass transfer, were a significant source of water loss, and appeared to possess poor stomatal control. The quantitative importance of this source of CO₂ for grain filling and yield remains to be established.

Key Words: Photosynthesis • Respiration • C requirement • Development

² Researchers, Dep. of Biology, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S. Dak. and Dep. of Botany, Univ. of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.

Received for publication July 21, 1977.