3.3. Analysis of the proceeding and correlation of DPs and VGTs
With the increase in weeks after sowing, the DPs and VGTs
proceeded significantly (Table 3). The weekly collection and examination of terminal buds showed that TDC maintained the vegetative growth phase (DP = 1.0) within 27 weeks after sowing. Plants began
to switch from vegetative growth to reproductive growth at week
28 (DP = 1.2), flower initiation took place at week 29 (DP = 2.0), and
floral differentiation finished at week 32 (DP = 6.0). Thus, it was
inferred that the process of floral bud differentiation in E. grandiflorum TDC lasted approximately 3 weeks.
During 9 weeks of observation (from week 23 to week 32), the
plant height and leaf number markedly changed. There were 8 different letters following the values, which indicate that 8 significant
changes had occurred. The plant height and leaf number increased
more dramatically than that of the crown diameter and DP, of which
there were only 4 and 5 different letters individually.
A significance analysis on the statistic association indicated that,
there were significant correlations existed between DPs and VGTs
(including leaf number, plant height, weeks after sowing and crown
diameter) (P < 0.001). Additionally, the correlation of DP (y) and
VGT (x) had been established, the model with the highest Adjusted
R Square (R2) and the best-fitting line selected, the results were
shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, the regression equation can be used to