Articles
EFFECTS OF BUD BREAK PERIOD ON SHOOT LENGTH AND FATE IN ‘ALGERIE’ LOQUAT
Article number
887_54
Pages
315 – 319
Language
English
Abstract
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) blooms profusely in autumn forming terminal panicles on new shoot growth.
Observations have indicated that panicle initiation shortly precedes shoot growth cessation in summer.
With the aim to gain more information about shoot growth and flowering transition, we have compared the dynamic of growth in shoots starting to grow early in the season, versus shoots sprouting in the middle and at the end of the vegetative cycle, and determined the influence of the bud break period on bud fate.
Three different dates of bud break were detected and determined three populations of shoots.
They occurred preceding harvest (March), after harvest (late May), and in early June.
Early growing shoots produced three vegetative flushes, whereas the shoots starting to grow in late May or in June only had two flushes.
For each single shoot, new young leaves emerged only after the preceding ones have completely expanded.
This suggests an endogenous control on new leaves emergence determined by carbohydrate availability and/or hormonal activity.
The vegetative flushes in early and mid-season shoots temporally overlap, but they were delayed in late formed shoots.
The appearance of the panicle was evident in the last week of August in early and mid-season shoots, while it was evident on mid-September in shoots with delayed budbreak.
It is concluded that all populations of shoots here analyzed formed panicles although at different times.
Observations have indicated that panicle initiation shortly precedes shoot growth cessation in summer.
With the aim to gain more information about shoot growth and flowering transition, we have compared the dynamic of growth in shoots starting to grow early in the season, versus shoots sprouting in the middle and at the end of the vegetative cycle, and determined the influence of the bud break period on bud fate.
Three different dates of bud break were detected and determined three populations of shoots.
They occurred preceding harvest (March), after harvest (late May), and in early June.
Early growing shoots produced three vegetative flushes, whereas the shoots starting to grow in late May or in June only had two flushes.
For each single shoot, new young leaves emerged only after the preceding ones have completely expanded.
This suggests an endogenous control on new leaves emergence determined by carbohydrate availability and/or hormonal activity.
The vegetative flushes in early and mid-season shoots temporally overlap, but they were delayed in late formed shoots.
The appearance of the panicle was evident in the last week of August in early and mid-season shoots, while it was evident on mid-September in shoots with delayed budbreak.
It is concluded that all populations of shoots here analyzed formed panicles although at different times.
Publication
Authors
F. Alonso, J.J. Hueso, M. González, J. Cuevas
Keywords
Eriobotrya japonica, vegetative growth, growth dynamics, flower bud induction, summer rest
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