Gibberellin A4/7 enhances seed-cone production in field-grown black spruce

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong H. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seed Orchard ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud ◽  
Needle Primordia

Black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) grafts growing in a seed orchard were sprayed with gibberellin A4/7, and grafts and trees in families growing in arboreta were sprayed with gibberellin A4/7 and (or) vitamin E from vegetative bud burst to the end of shoot elongation. Gibberellin A4/7 was very effective in promoting seed cones and 400 mg/L appeared optimal. Vitamin E at 1000 mg/L was not effective. Vegetative bud burst occurred in mid-May and shoot elongation ended in late June. Needle primordia were visible on the apices of newly formed buds at the end of June. Reproductive buds had fewer bud scales than vegetative buds. It appeared that potential reproductive buds terminated their bud scale initiation earlier. Gibberellin A4/7 application to promote seed-cone production should be carried out before bud-type differentiation. This coincides with the end of lateral shoot elongation.

Timing of gibberellin A4/7 application for cone production in potted black spruce grafts

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1137-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong H. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Foliar Spray ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Bud Break ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Best Response ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Potted 5-year-old grafts of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) growing in either a heated greenhouse or an outdoor holding area were sprayed weekly at 200 mg•L−1 gibberellin A4/7 for various durations and timings. The application began 1 to 6 weeks after vegetative bud break and continued until the end of lateral shoot elongation. Sprayings ended at the same time for all treatments, about 1 week before leaf primordial differentiation on the shoot apices. The best response in seed-cone production occurred when application began 2 weeks after bud break (midstage of rapid shoot elongation) and continued for 5 weeks; treatments were also effective when applications began 3 weeks after bud break or earlier and continued for 4 to 6 weeks. Treatments initiated later (4 to 6 weeks after bud break) were not effective. Grafts kept outdoors produced more seed cones than those kept indoors. The effects on cone production of gibberellin A4/7 application at four different concentrations were compared by spraying for 6 weeks, beginning 1 week after vegetative bud burst. Gibberellin A4/7 at 200 mg•L−1 was the lowest foliar spray concentration found to be effective in promoting seed-cone production.

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.

Vegetative bud development and cone differentiation in Abies amabilis

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 992-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Owens ◽  
Marje Molder
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Leaf Primordia ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Vegetative Buds ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Mitotic Frequency ◽  
Mother Cells ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud

In the trees studied, vegetative buds began development in early April, bud burst occurred in early June and shoot elongation was completed by late July. Vegetative buds initiated bud scales from mid-April until mid-July and then initiated leaf primordia until the vegetative buds became dormant in November. All axillary buds were initiated in mid-May and their bud scales were initiated until early July. During bud-scale initiation, distal vegetative lateral apices were more conical but had a mitotic frequency similar to other lateral apices. Near the end of bud-scale initiation, vegetative apices accumulated more phenolic and ergastic compounds in future pith cells than did potential seed-cone or pollen-cone apices. Bud differentiation occurred in mid-July at the end of lateral shoot elongation. During bud differentiation the mitotic frequency of pollen-cone and seed-cone apices increased much more than that of distal vegetative apices. This resulted in a marked increase in apical size and a change in apical shape and zonation that made reproductive apices easily distinguishable from vegetative apices. Bracts began to be initiated in mid-July, and ovuliferous scales, in mid-August. Both continued to be initiated until seed-cone buds became dormant in November. A single megaspore mother cell formed in each ovule before dormancy. Microsporophylls were initiated from mid-July until early September. Microsporangia began to differentiate in September and contained microspore mother cells when pollen cones became dormant in mid-October. Meiosis did not begin before dormancy. A few potential vegetative and many potential seed-cone and potential pollen-cone apices became latent during bud-scale initiation. Some potential seed-cone apices became vegetative buds. Consequently, the number of cone buds formed was determined primarily by the proportion of apices that developed fully and the pathway along which they developed.

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.

Bud development in grand fir (Abiesgrandis)

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Axillary Buds ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Leaf Initiation ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Vegetative Buds ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Terminal Buds

Vegetative buds of mature Abiesgrandis (Dougl.) Lindl. (grand fir) were studied throughout the annual growth cycle. Vegetative buds became mitotically active in mid-March, bud burst occurred in mid-May, and shoot elongation continued until the end of June. Bud scales were initiated during shoot elongation. In mid-April axillary buds were initiated on elongating shoots. They were initiated subterminally in the axils of the first-formed bud scales and laterally in the axils of leaf primordia. Axillary buds followed the same developmental sequence as terminal buds. The end of bud-scale initiation was preceded by rapid apical enlargement and followed by a period of rapid leaf initiation. The rate of leaf initiation slowed in mid-August but continued until vegetative buds became dormant in mid-November. Seed cones are axillary on the upper surface of vigorous shoots in the upper region of the crown. Pollen cones are axillary on the lower surface of shoots below the seed cone bearing region of the crown. Bract and microsporophyll initiation began in early to mid-July, was rapid at first, until about two-thirds of the primordia were initiated, then slower until all primordia were initiated. All bracts and ovuliferous scales were initiated and seed-cone buds became dormant in early November. All microsporophylls were initiated by early September, microsporangial development began in mid-August, and pollen-cone buds became dormant in early November. The cyclic nature of cone production in Abies is discussed in relation to cone-bud initiation, cone maturation, and photosynthate utilization in developing shoots.

Vegetative bud development and the time and method of cone initiation in subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 2249-2262 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Owens ◽  
Hardev Singh
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Axillary Bud ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Rapid Phase ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Vegetative Buds ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Vegetative terminal and axillary bud development and the time and method of cone initiation and cone bud development are described for Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.Cell divisions began in vegetative buds early in April. A brief period of apical enlargement was followed by bud-scale initiation for 10 weeks. Buds were initiated in the axils of some leaf primordia about the time of vegetative bud burst, 1 month after vegetative bud dormancy ended. All buds completed bud-scale initiation by the end of June, which coincided with the end of the rapid phase of lateral shoot elongation. This was followed by a 2-week period of bud differentiation, during which time few primordia were initiated, apical size increased, and apical shape and zonation changed more in reproductive than in vegetative apices. Leaf and bract initiation began by mid-July and continued until mid-October, when vegetative and seed-cone buds became dormant. Microsporophyll initiation began earlier and was nearly completed by the end of July; pollen-cone buds became dormant in mid-September.The number of cone buds is determined by the proportion of axillary bud primordia that fully developed and the pathway along which they developed. Potential seed-cone buds may become latent but more commonly differentiate into vegetative buds of low vigor. Potential pollen-cone buds frequently become latent but have not been observed to differentiate into vegetative buds. The position of the axillary bud on the shoot and of the shoot in the tree strongly influences axillary bud development in Abies.

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.

Interaction between gibberellin A4/7 and root-pruning on the reproductive and vegetative processes in Douglas-fir. IV. Effects on lateral bud development

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Owens ◽  
J. E. Webber ◽  
S. D. Ross ◽  
R. P. Pharis
Keyword(s):  
Normal Development ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Lateral Bud ◽  
Mitotic Frequency ◽  
Bud Initiation ◽  
Vegetative Bud

The anatomy, mitotic frequency, size, and total insoluble carbohydrate histochemistry was studied in axillary apices from 9- and 10-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees after cone induction treatments of root-pruning and (or) stem injections of a gibberellin A4 and A7 (GA4/7) mixture. Axillary buds were initiated at the time of root-pruning, but root-pruning treatment had no effect on axillary bud initiation. Axillary apices from control and gibberellin-treated trees were similar and followed the normal sequence of bud-scale initiation, differentiation, and leaf initiation (described previously) and no cone buds differentiated. Early development of axillary apices from root-pruned and root-pruned, gibberellin-treated trees was normal, but development became retarded near the time of vegetative bud flush. Retarded apices were small with low mitotic frequency and developed many features characteristics of latent apices. Retardation of axillary apices continued until mid-July when normal development resumed and apices differentiated into reproductive buds or vegetative buds, or became latent. The trees in which the greatest retardation of apical development occurred during lateral shoot elongation produced the most cone buds. These results are discussed in relation to hypotheses proposed to explain how cultural and gibberellin treatments affect cone induction in the Pinaceae.

Bud development in mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana). II. Cone-bud differentiation and predormancy development

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Cone Apex ◽  
Tsuga Mertensiana ◽  
Lateral Branches ◽  
Mother Cells ◽  
Pollen Cone ◽  
Bud Initiation ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Seed cones of Tsuga mertensiana (Bong) Carr. occur terminally on distal lateral branches and form from the differentiation of a terminal, previously vegetative apex, into a seed-cone apex. Pollen cones commonly occur on lateral branches and form from the differentiation of an undetermined axillary apex about 6 weeks after axillary bud initiation. Pollen cones also occasionally occur terminally. All cone buds began differentiation in late July after bud-scale initiation was complete and at about the end of lateral shoot elongation. Seed-cone buds initiated bracts and ovuliferous scales, but not ovules, before they became dormant at the end of October. Pollen-cone buds initiated all microsporophylls by early September. Microsporangia containing microspore mother cells differentiated before pollen-cone buds became dormant in mid-October. The time of cone-bud differentiation is related to vegetative bud and shoot development. The time and method of cone-bud differentiation is discussed in relation to T. heterophylla and other conifers having similar bud development.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document