Increase in temperature is one of the major
disturbing stresses upon plant growth, which change the
growth rate in plants depending upon the plant species
(Wahid et al., 2007). Injuries at morphological and
physiological level in plants occurred by exposure of
plant to high temperature above the range of optimal
temperature. In the present investigation it is observed
that, there is a decreased in growth in all Panicum species
with increase in temperature. Little increase in plant
height was noted at control treatment with high
temperature (T0). Ashraf and Hafeez, (2004) has also
been reported that there in decrease in plant growth with
increase in temperature, in several plant species. Main
tiller length (MTL) of three different Panicum species
differed significantly from each other at different
temperature levels (Figure 1). Value for main tiller length
was observed in Panicum coloratum (159 cm) followed
by Panicum antidotale having MTL of (151 cm). The
lowest value for MTL (144 cm) was observed in species
of Panicum maximum. High temperature induced a decrease in fresh
and dry weight, relative growth rate, and plant height and
number of leaves per plant. In the present study,
number of leaves per plant significantly differs among
three Panicum species at different temperature levels.
Panicum coloratum give the highest growth which is
followed by Panicum antidotale and Panicum maximum. Similarly number of leaves per plant also varied
significantly among different Panicum species at