PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.) plants have distinct vegetative and generative growth patterns under shading and water stress. This current study aimed to evaluate the growth patterns of arrowroot plants under various shading and water availability conditions. Two factors, shading levels and water availability, were set as treatments. Four shading levels were 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%. Water availability treatments were inundation for 5, 10, and 15 days, and watering intervals of 5, 10, 15, and 20 days. A nested design with the watering factor nested in the shading factor was used to arrange the treatments. All treatments were repeated three times. The findings revealed that maximum vegetative growth occurred eight months after planting. While the growth of the generative phase increased in older plants up to ten months following planting. Plant vegetative growth was significantly influenced by shading treatment, whereas tuber growth was unaffected. The inundation treatments enhanced root number and plant biomass, while drought stress inhibited vegetative and generative growth. The 15-day inundation treatment did not significantly affect plant growth; however, growth was enhanced following the stress period. In contrast, drought stress over 20 days caused considerable plant growth retardation. The arrowroot plants can be grown under 50-70% shading and water stress for 10 days.