The Effect of PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) 6000 on Water Spinach (Ipomoea reptans L.) Growth

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to know whether PEG 6000 can decrease the growth of water spinach.
This study was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design with main factor is PEG with 3 levels of
concentration: 0% w/v, 10% w/v, 20% w/v and 30% w/v with 5 repetitions. As parameters were plant
height, number of leaves, fresh weight, dry weight, and relative water content. Levene test, analysis of
variance, and Tukey test were conducted at 5% level. The result shows that the plant period is positively
linearly correlated with plant height at all PEG concentrations with different growth rates. Lowest growth
rate at 20% and 30% PEG concentrations. PEG with 20% and 30% concentrations significantly decrease
in the number of leaves, wet weight, dry weight, but there is no effect on relative water content. The
conclusion is water stress conditions will decrease the growth of water spinach.