ISHS Acta Horticulturae 80: Symposium on Growth Regulators in Fruit Production
INDUCTION OF SIDE-SHOOT FORMATION IN THE FRUIT-TREE NURSERY |
| Author: | S.J. Wertheim |
| Abstract:
Three treatments to reduce apical dominance in growing buds of Schone van Boskoop apple on M.9 rootstock in the fruit-tree nursery were compared with respect to their efficacy. The treatments, applied at two bud lengths (45 and 65 cm) were: spraying with 0.15% M & B 25,105, shoot tipping, and cutting off parts of young leaves. All treatments except leaf cutting reduced apical dominance, which resulted in side-shoot formation. The chemical treatment was by far the most effective, giving very useful planting material (e.g. trees with a sufficient number of side shoots of the proper lengths and origin height). This was the case for both application heights, which suggests that the application height is not limited. The effect of leaf cutting, although small and statistically unsignificant, supports the theory that young leaves are involved in apical dominance. Possibly, the effect of shoot tipping (e.g. young-leaf removal) and chemical pinching (e.g. damaging young leaves) are also based on the same principle; that is, reduction of the auxin export from young leaves. The chemically induced side shoots arose a few decimetres below and above the position of the tip at application time. Within certain limits, this datum can be used in "planning" the height of side-shoot development. | |
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