Skip to main content
Log in

Ontogeny of proventitious epicormic buds in Quercus petraea. I. In the 5 years following initiation

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Trees Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 22 January 1998 / Accepted: 8 May 1998

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fontaine, F., Druelle, JL., Clément, C. et al. Ontogeny of proventitious epicormic buds in Quercus petraea. I. In the 5 years following initiation. Trees 13, 54–62 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009737

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009737

Navigation