ISSN:
0931-1890
Keywords:
Key words Epicormic potential
;
Meristematic area
;
Proventitious bud
;
Quercus petraea
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract The persistence of large epicormic shoots is one of the main factors that reduces timber quality and value in Quercus petraea. The early phases of epicormic shoot formation, i.e. the initiation of the epicormic buds, their survival and their proliferation over the years, are not clearly understood. In the present work, we studied the initiation of the axillary buds giving rise to epicormic buds and shoots, and followed their behaviour during the first 5 years using both scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Two types of proventitious epicormic buds have been identified. The first type has small axillary buds associated with the rings of bud-scale scars which are found at the base and tip of each growth unit. These buds are made of a terminal meristem surrounded only by scales; no leaf primordium is detected. During the second and third years of epicormic life, meristematic areas appear in the scale axil. Progressively, the meristematic areas organize into secondary bud primordia composed solely of the terminal meristem surrounded by scales. The second type of epicormic bud has secondary buds produced by a large axillary bud when this large bud either developed into a shoot or partially abscised. The epicormic potential in Q. petraea is characterized by a balance between the epicormic buds in apparent rest, enclosing meristematic areas and secondary bud primordia, and their mortality over the years.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/PL00009737
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