ISHS Acta Horticulturae 441: V Temperate Zone Fruit in the Tropics and Subtropics
DORMANCY OF PEACH FLORAL BUDS : BIOLOGICAL AND TENTATIVE BIOCHEMICAL APPROACHES |
| Authors: | M. Bonhomme, R. Rageau, J.P. Richard, M. Gendraud |
| Abstract:
A first attempt was made to characterize, through simultaneous biological and biochemical approaches, the status of the flower buds of the peach tree and the variations of this status during rest in two contrasted temperatures patterns: under natural conditions (temperature usually between 0 and 15°C) and in a heated greenhouse (temperature > 15°C). The biological methods (in situ analysis of growth curves and growth capacity test) gave results in agreement with previous ones. Under greenhouse conditions, the results of the biological and the biochemical methods were consistent. The buds did not recover their ability to grow at warm temperature, and after some months they died. They appeared endodormant (nucleotides test) and as weak sinks for nutrients compared to the shoot tissues (intracellular pH measurements). Under natural conditions, the two kinds of results were not consistent. From October to December, the buds could grow at cool temperatures, but appeared to be endodormant and weak sinks for nutrients compared to the shoot tissues. From January to bloom, the buds could grow at both cool and warm temperatures and appeared no longer endodormant, however they remained weak sinks compared to the shoot. Nevertheless, the biochemical approach reveals some interesting changes in metabolism of floral primordia during the rest period, particularly in cold deprivation situation. | |
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