Hormonal enhancement of cone production in Douglas-fir grafts and seedlings

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
George S. Puritch ◽  
Eleanor E. McMullan ◽  
Michael D. Meagher ◽  
Clarence S. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Gibberellic Acid ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽  
Viable Seed ◽  
Seed Orchards ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Production Response

Gibberellic acid (GA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were applied alone and in combination to both girdled and nongirdled branches of Douglas-fir in four seed orchards (two containing seedlings and two containing grafts). GA significantly increased seed-cone buds and cones and caused a nonsignificant increase in pollen-cone buds. Cone production was not significantly affected by girdling or the application of NAA. Trees treated with the combination of GA + NAA responded similarly to those treated with GA alone. Cone production response to GA varied according to the orchard locations, with better response in the normally more productive orchards. The percentage of trees flowering was increased by GA. Hormone treatments had no effect on seeds per cone but they significantly reduced filled seed per cone. Owing to increased cone number, however, the GA treatments greatly increased the yield of viable seed. NAA increased the percentage of seed germinating and the rate of seed germination, while GA had no effect.

Promotion of flowering in white spruce (Piceaglauca) by gibberellin A4/7, auxin (naphthaleneacetic acid), and the adjunct cultural treatments of girdling and Ca(NO3)2 fertilization

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Pharis ◽  
Debra Tomchuk ◽  
Frederick D. Beall ◽  
R. Marie Rauter ◽  
Gyula Kiss
Keyword(s):  
Fold Increase ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽  
Female Cone ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Sporadic Flowering ◽  
Old Trees ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Temperature Water

Flowering (production of seed cone buds) of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) grafts and of 55-year-old trees was significantly promoted by the application of gibberellin A4/7 (GA4/7). Use of GA4/7 accompanied by the adjunct cultural treatment of nondestructive girdling was especially effective. When GA4/7 was injected into a branch, the flowering stimulus was translocated upwards, thereby yielding up to a fivefold increase (72 female cone buds per propagule) in flowering. Clonal propagules sprayed to drip off with GA4/7 + auxin (naphtaleneacetic acid) averaged 116 female cone buds per propagule (a 12-fold increase over controls) with a 100% frequency of flowering. Pollen cone bud production and number of male flowering plants also tended to increase with the most successful flowering treatments. When GA4/7 was applied to 55-year-old trees with nondestructive, overlapping stem girdles and auxin, treatments were significantly effective (6- to 27-fold increases, respectively). When GA4/7 + Ca(NO3)2 was applied to 55-year-old trees, there was a tendency (nonsignificant) to increase (4- to 16-fold) flowering, relative to GA4/7 alone. White spruce, because of its very sporadic flowering and usually nominal response to GA4/7 alone, should be classed as a "recalcitrant conifer species." Use of the GA4/7 plus appropriate adjunct cultural treatments (high temperature, water stress, girdling) and (or) auxin is, thus, recommended if significant flowering and seed cone production is desired.

Seed-cone and pollen-cone production models for young black spruce seedling seed orchards: a first approximation

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 921-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.-É. Caron
Keyword(s):  
Standard Error ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seed Orchard ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Seed Orchards ◽  
Crop Models ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Production Models ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Pollen Cone

Seed orchard managers wanting to predict potential seed-cone (Sc) and pollen-cone (Pc) production 1 year in advance of seed release and pollen dissemination need predictive models. The present study proposes the use of cone-crop models based on tree age in young black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) orchards. Sc and Pc production was monitored from 1987 to 1993 in each of five seedling seed orchards. Some trees began bearing Sc and Pc by tree age 6. The relationships of Sc and Pc production with tree age were each represented by three sigmoid equations: one for light crop years, one for heavy crop years, and one for light plus heavy crop years. The rate of cone increase for heavy and light crop years differed for both Sc and Pc. Sigmoid equations representing heavy Sc and Pc crop years in orchards had the highest r2 (0.8462 and 0.9381, respectively) and the lowest standard error. Sigmoid model of heavy crop years with plantation data also had the highest r2 value (0.8066) and the lowest standard error. The rate of Sc and Pc increase versus tree age was higher for orchards than for plantations. To select the best of three sigmoid models, one must take into account the early buildup phase of cone production in young trees, the yearly fluctuation in cone crops, previous-year cone production, and environmental factors that can affect cone crops.

Cost of reproduction in Douglas-fir

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1429-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousry A. El-Kassaby ◽  
Hugh J. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Annual Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Energy Allocation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Annual Ring Width ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone

The balance between allocating energy resources to reproduction or growth has considerable theoretical interest. Conflicting ecological requirements and evolutionary pressures often necessitate a trade-off in energy allocation. We obtained measurements on seed-cone production and annual ring width of 365 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees from 29 open-pollinated families for 8 years. Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations were computed for seed-cone production and ring width for each year. Five of the eight environmental correlations were negative (range −0.077 to −0.305), reflecting the reality of the trade-off in physiological terms. Six of the eight genetic correlations were negative (range −0.199 to −0.776), indicating that a trade-off exists at the genetic level between energy allocation to reproduction and to somatic growth. These findings agree with the current theory of life-history evolution. Key words: Pseudotsuga menziesii, cone production, annual ring width, genetic correlation.

Effects of stem injections of gibberellin A4/7 and paclobutrazol on sex expression and the within-crown distribution of seed and pollen cones in black spruce (Picea mariana)

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald F Smith
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Sex Expression ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Seed Orchards ◽  
Adjunct Treatment ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Two experiments in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) seedling seed orchards were established to determine if a stem injection of paclobutrazol (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) could be used as an adjunct treatment to increase the efficacy of stem injections of gibberellins A4 and A7 (GA4/7). Trees received a single injection of GA4/7 and (or) paclobutrazol shortly after vegetative bud burst. There was a dose-dependent but nonlinear increase in the production of cones of both sexes in response to stem injections of either GA4/7 or paclobutrazol. The optimum rate of GA4/7 for stimulating pollen-cone production was 3.3 mg, whereas the most seed cones were induced on trees receiving 11 mg. The sex ratio (number of seed cones/number of pollen cones) increased with the rate of GA4/7 applied. Injecting paclobutrazol also promoted cones of both sexes equally, resulting in sex ratios comparable with that of the control trees. Treatments did not affect the total numbers of buds (vegetative, latent, and cone) produced. Seed- and pollen-cone buds occurred in positions that would have otherwise developed vegetatively and become latent, respectively. The mechanisms whereby paclobutrazol could affect flowering in black spruce are discussed. The use of paclobutrazol as an adjunct to GA4/7 treatments in black spruce seedling seed orchards appears effective, practical, and safe.

Promotion of flowering in western hemlock by gibberellin A4/7 applied at different stages of bud and shoot development

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1051-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Owens ◽  
Anna M. Colangeli
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Shoot Development ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Cone buds were induced on container-grown and field-grown western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) clones during a 3-year period to study the effects of time and duration of gibberellin A4/7 treatment on cone induction, sexuality of cones, and to relate these results to bud and shoot development. The most effective treatment times preceded anatomical differentiation. The most abundant pollen cones and seed cones were produced when trees were sprayed with gibberellin A4/7 before vegetative bud burst and early shoot elongation. Two to three weekly gibberellin A4/7 applications starting at preswollen and swollen-bud stages were adequate for pollen-cone production. Pollen-cone production decreased when the applications were started at vegetative bud burst or during early shoot elongation. A minimum of three weekly applications were required for seed-cone production, and applications were equally effective when started at preswollen, swollen, and vegetative bud burst stages. Seed-cone production decreased when three weekly applications were started during early shoot elongation; however, this was overcome by increasing the number of applications.

Gibberellin A4/7 enhanced flowering in Pinuscaribaea var. hondurensis

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 788-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek L. S. Harrison ◽  
Mike U. Slee
Keyword(s):  
Single Treatment ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Sexually Mature

Gibberellin A4/7 was applied to field-grown grafts of sexually mature poor and good flowering clones of Pinuscaribaea Morelet var. hondurensis. Barr. & Golf. Continuous applications of gibberellin A4/7 over a 6-week period significantly enhanced seed-cone production in poor flowering clones but had no effect on good flowering clones. Poor flowering clones also showed slight decreases in pollen-cone production with gibberellin A4/7, while clones that normally flowered well did not. Gibberellin A4/7 increased final shoot lengths in the lower (male) and upper (female) crown region of both poor and good flowering clones. A series of timed gibberellin A4/7 applications suggested that a single treatment near the onset of reproductive bud development may be used to enhance seed-cone production.

Some Factors Influencing Cone Production on Young Black Spruce in New Brunswick

1981 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 267-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Simpson ◽  
G. R. Powell
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Pollen Cone

Ten young black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) plantations in northern and central New Brunswick were examined to de termine the influence of aspect, slope, tree age and tree height on pollen-cone and seed-cone production. It was found that a greater proportion of trees growing on southerly aspects produced pollen cones and seed cones than trees growing on northerly aspects. Trees growing on southerly aspects bore 2.5 and 5 times more seed cones and pollen cones, respectively, than trees growing on northerly aspects. Cone production on south-sloping sites was approximately double that on level sites. The number of seed cones was most significantly correlated with tree height. The number of pollen cones was most significantly correlated with number of seed cones.

Patterns of seed-cone and pollen-cone production in young Piceamariana trees

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Caron ◽  
G. R. Powell
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Warm Weather ◽  
Old Trees ◽  
Pollen Cone

Production of seed cones from 1978 to 1987 and of pollen cones from 1980 to 1982 by young black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) trees was recorded in five plantations aged 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 years in 1980. Variations in cone production and percentages of trees bearing cones were assessed in relation to changing tree age and cone numbers per tree. The first seed cones and pollen cones were noted on 7- and 10-year-old trees, respectively. After ages 10–12 for seed cones and 12–14 for pollen cones there were substantial yearly fluctuations of average numbers of cones per tree. Similarly, the percentages of trees bearing cones fluctuated among years, but differences between poorer and better years decreased as the proportion of bearing trees gradually increased. Up to age 14, the number of seed cones borne per tree was generally higher than the number of pollen cones. Thereafter, pollen-cone production was always higher than seed-cone production and reached 6.6 pollen cones per seed cone by age 18. Pollen cone bearing trees were good indicators of seed cone bearing trees at all ages. Most 12-year-old and older seed cone bearing trees were good indicators of pollen cone bearing trees. Annual production of seed cones was correlated with warm weather in early May and early July, and with relatively low rainfall in early June of the previous year.

Effects of Tree Spacing and Height Reduction on Cone Production in Two Douglas-Fir Seed Orchards

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Copes ◽  
Mike Bordelon
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Seed Orchards ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Height Control ◽  
Height Reduction ◽  
Large Tree ◽  
Average Production

Abstract Two treatments involving tree spacings (12 and 24 ft) within rows spaced 24 ft apart and height control (topped or not topped at 20 ft) were evaluated in 17- and 22-yr-old coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) seed orchards. Treatment differences for cone production were not significant because of the large tree-to-tree variation in cone production and, at one orchard, the confounding of location with treatment. Cone production in 1990 averaged slightly more than 2 bushels per tree (range 0 to 11.7 bushels). Average production per 96 linear ft of orchard row was 14.8 bushels. West. J. Appl. For. 9(1):5-7.

scholarly journals GRAFTING METHODS FOR THE DOUGLAS FIR

1959 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-202
Author(s):  
A. L. Orr-Ewing ◽  
D. C. Prideaux
Keyword(s):  
Seed Quality ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Seed Orchards ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Grafting Methods

Grafting is a valuable technique for foresters interested in improving seed-quality as the inherent characteristics of selected trees can be preserved indefinitely for breeding and seed orchards. Dormant scions of the Douglas fir can be collected in the winter and early spring by either climbing or shooting off branches with a rifle. They are stored until the rootstock is in an actively growing condition and are then either grafted in a greenhouse or outside. The cleft and crown veneer graft methods have been found the most suitable for this species. The possibilities of early cone production after grafting appear promising.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document