The effect of LAB 173711 and ethephon on time of flowering and cold hardiness of peach flower buds

Peach flowers are often killed during bloom by spring frosts. LAB 173711, a compound with abscisic (ABA)-like activity, and ethephon delayed flowering in peach trees. In greenhouse experiments, LAB 173711, at concentrations of 10^?3–10^?2 M, was most effective in delaying bloom when applied after a 5°C cold storage period, rather than before the dormancy breaking treatment. In contrast, ethephon delayed bloom most effectively when applied before 5°C cold storage; ethephon caused flower bud abscission when treatments were made after the chilling requirement had been satisfied. In field experiments, ethephon delayed flowering by 6–7 days, which reduced bud injury after a spring frost during bloom. No flower bud injury was found on ethephon-treated trees after temperatures of ?4.3°C; whereas without ethephon 25% of the flower buds were frost damaged. LAB 173711 delayed the time to 50% bloom by 2–3 days. However, this was not long enough to avoid low-temperature injury to the flower buds.     

Interactions of plant species mediated plant competition for inorganic nitrogen with soil microorganisms in an alpine meadow

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) applied in the post-harvest stage of peach trees. The 3-year trial was carried out in Italy (N 40°20′, E 16°48′) on mature peach plants (cv “Springcrest”) trained to transverse Y. From bud break to harvest, irrigation was carried out by applying 100% ET_c, while from harvest to early autumn, plants were separated into three groups and subjected to different irrigation treatments (100, 57 and 34% ET_c). The decrease in soil water content caused a reduction in the values of tissue water potential and gas exchange both in 57% ET_c and 34% ET_c treatments. RDI determined the reduction in the growth of waterspouts and lateral shoots but did not influence the growth of fruiting shoots. During the trial, no significant reductions in crop yield and quality were observed in the 57% ET_c treatment, whereas about 1,100, 1,800 and 2,500 m³ ha⁻¹ of water were saved in the first, the second and the third year, respectively. In the second year of the trial, the use of RDI in the post-harvest stage determined carbohydrate and nitrogen accumulation in roots, branches, shoots and floral buds. The results demonstrate that, under scarce water supply conditions, a clear benefit can be obtained through the use of RDI during the post-harvest stage. This confirms the possibility to reduce the irrigation water by applying RDI during phenological stages less sensitive to water deficit without negatively affecting peach growth and yield.     

Interrelations between respiration and dormancy in buds of three hardwood species with different chilling requirements for dormancy release

 Respiration in vegetative buds of mature Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa and Prunus padus trees was measured monthly at 15°C from mid-October 1996 to natural outdoor budburst in April 1997. In B. pendula the effect of bud water content on respiration was also estimated (December–April) by artificial imbibition of buds for 24 h prior to measurement of respiration. For estimation of corresponding bud dormancy status, batches of twigs were forced at identical monthly intervals at 15°C in long days (24 h), and budburst recorded. In all species dormancy was deepest when the leaves were shed in October, and dormancy was first alleviated in P. padus followed by B. pendula and A. glutinosa. However, bud respiration capacity was not related to dormancy release as it decreased in all species from October to November and displayed no notable increase until February in P. padus, March in B. pendula and April in A. glutinosa, after completion of dormancy release. Rather, increase in respiration coincided with growth resumption prior to budburst. Artificial imbibition of B. pendula buds increased the water content by approximately 10% (FW) and induced a doubling of the respiration rate (December–February). Moreover, the seasonal variation in bud water content (October–April) explained 94% of the variation in respiration in B. pendula and P. padus, and 84% in A. glutinosa. These observations suggest an important role of water content for respiration. During a cold period from mid-December to mid-January with mean temperature of –9.7°C dormancy release was arrested in P. padus, and to some degree in A. glutinosa, whereas dormancy release progressed normally in B. pendula. This indicates species differences in lower critical temperatures for dormancy release. Received: 30 June 1997 / Acceped: 1 October 1997     

Effects of endogenous ABA levels and temperature on cedar (Cedrus libani Loudon) bud dormancy in vitro

Axillary and apical buds of in-vitro-propagated cuttings of Cedrus libani are unable to burst at 24 °C, but this inhibition was overcome at 30 °C. Here we have used cedar microcuttings to investigate whether the levels of endogenous hormones vary with bud dormancy and temperature. We analysed the levels of abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, isopentenyladenine and their major metabolites using HPLC purification and fractionation of the samples coupled to an ELISA method for hormonal quantitation involving several antibodies elicited against each hormonal family. Abscisic acid levels in microcuttings with dormant buds were higher than those in microcuttings with growing buds. At 24 °C, needles accumulated more abscisic acid than at 30 °C. In addition, when needles were removed, but growth release was achieved at 24 °C. Abscisic acid supplied at 30 °C induced the formation of dormant buds. These results suggest that abscisic acid accumulation in the needles can explain the bud dormancy of cedar microcuttings at 24 °C. Received: 14 November 1997 / Revision received: 16 January 1998 / Accepted: 5 May 1998     

Effect of chilling on the opening and abscisic acid content of dormant lateral buds of willow

A reduction in abscisic acid (ABA) content was not a pre-requisite for the breaking of dormancy of vegetative lateral buds of both field-grown trees and shoots of willow (Salix viminalis L.) maintained in controlled conditions. Similar variations in bud ABA levels were observed whether the shoots were stored in a warm (22 ± 1 °C) or cold (6 ± 0.5 °C) environment. Following transfer to a growth room the ABA content of chilled buds declined more rapidly than did that of non-chilled buds.     

Effects of constant and fluctuating temperature on time to budburst in Betula pubescens and its relation to bud respiration

 Effects of fluctuating and constant temperatures on budburst time, and respiration in winter buds were studied in Betula pubescens Ehrh. Dormant seedlings were chilled at 0°C for 4 months and then allowed to sprout in long days (LD, 24 h) at constant temperatures of 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21°C, and at diurnally fluctuating temperatures (12/12 h, LD 24 h) with means of 9, 12, 15 and 18°C. No difference in thermal time requirements for budburst was found between plants receiving constant and fluctuating temperatures. The base temperature for thermal time accumulation was estimated to 1°C. Respiration in post-dormant (dormancy fully released) excised winter buds from an adult tree increased exponentially with temperature and was 20 times as high at 30°C than at 0°C. However, respiration in buds without scales was 30% higher at 0°C, and it was 2.7 times higher at 24°C than in intact buds. Thus, the tight bud scales probably constrain respiration and growth and are likely to delay budburst in spring. Arrhenius plots of the respiration data were biphasic with breaks at 13–15°C. However, this phase transition is unlikely to be associated with chilling sensitivity since the present species is hardy and adapted to a boreal climate. Received: 10 January 1997 / Accepted: 23 June 1997     

The Influence of Temperature on Floral Initiation in the Olive

Floral initiation is completely inhibited when the olive is grown in a glasshouse at a minimum temperature of 16°C and a maximum temperature of 27°–30°C but occurs when it is grown at natural winter conditions in California. This study was undertaken to determine more specifically the temperature requirements for flowering and to show the relation of temperature treatment to hud development and floral initiation. Results of experiments performed with trees in containers grown at constant temperatures in controlled environment growth rooms show that the optimum temperature for flowering is 10°–13°C. Either higher (18°C) or lower (4°C) temperatures inhibit flowering completely. Morphological studies show that axis elongation and floral initiation occur in buds during temperature treatment at 10°C and 13°C but fail to occur during 4°C or 18°C treatments, or following these treatments when the temperature is raised to 21°C. When plants were exposed to 13°C for varying durations, it was found that no inflorescences formed after a 7.5 week exposure but that many formed after an 11-week exposure. A subsequent experiment showed that many more inflorescences formed after a 10-week exposure at 13°C than after 9 weeks exposure. Morphological changes in the bud seem to be associated with this increase in flowering affected by duration of treatment.     

Effects of Temperature on Cold Acclimation and Deacclimation in Flower Buds of Evergreen Azaleas

The effects of various storage temperature/duration combinations(5, 10 and 17°/4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks) on cold acclimationand deacclimation of flower buds were studied in four speciesof evergreen azaleas having different natural distribution andcold hardiness. The freezing process and the exotherm temperaturedistribution of florets in excised whole buds determined bydifferential thermal analysis were used as the diagnostics todetermine the degree of bud acclimation and deacclimation. Theacclimation in buds lasted for as long as 12 to 16 weeks at5°C storage, and from 8 to 12 weeks at 10°C, and itappeared to be maintained after the chilling requirement forbreaking bud dormancy had been satisfied. Therefore, bud acclimationseems to be maintained independently from bud dormancy. Thedehardening effect on acclimated buds occurred as a result ofshort exposures to higher temperatures or long exposures tolower temperatures, and there was no relation between the rateof deacclimation and the degree of hardiness in each species.Among three storage temperatures examined, 5°C was the mosteffective for the maintenance of cold acclimation in flowerbuds and the small difference of floret water contents at 5and 10°C storage is not significant. (Received August 28, 1982; Accepted February 4, 1983)     

Periodicity of cambial activity in Abies balsamea. I. Effects of temperature and photoperiod on cambial dormancy and frost hardiness

The relationship between from hardiness and growth potential, and their dependence on temperature and photoperiod, was investigated in the one-year-old cambium of balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.]. Six-year-old trees were exposed for 9 weeks to either the natural environment or one of 4 controlled environments in the fall (18 September-18 November), spring (12 April–14 June) and summer (19 July – 19 September). The 4 controlled environments were (1) WS, warm temperature (24/20°C in day/night) + short day (8 h). (2) WL. warm temperature (24/20°C) + long day (8 h + 1 h night break), (3) CS. cold temperature (9/5°C) + short day (8 h) and (4) CL, cold temperature (9/5°C) + long day (8 h + 1 h night break). At the beginning and end of each exposure, cambial activity was measured by recording the number of xylem, cambium and phloem cells, frost hardiness was estimated from the cambium's ability to survive freezing to –40°C, and cambial growth potential was deduced from the duration of the cell cycle and the production of xylem, cambium and phloem cells in cuttings cultured for 4 weeks with exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) under environmental conditions favourable for cambial activity. In the natural environment, frost hardening began in September and was completed in November, while dehardening occurred when the cambium reactivated. CL, CS, and to a lesser extent WS, promoted hardening in the summer and fall, but did not prevent dehardening in the spring. The cambial growth potential in the natural environment declined from a maximum in April to a low level in June, reached a minimum in September, then increased to a high level in November. This potential was promoted by CL and CS on all dates by WL in the summer and fall. The ratio of xylem to phloem induced by IAA treatment was greatest in June and least in September in cuttings from trees exposed to the natural environment, and was increased by CL and CS in the fall. The cambium in intact branches of trees protected from chilling during the fall and winter resumed cell cycling after less than 9 weeks of dormancy, but produced mostly or only phloem in the subsequent growing period. It is concluded that the frost hardiness of the cambium, the IAA-induced cycling of cambial cells, and IAA-induced xylem to phloem ratio vary independently with season, temperature and photoperiod, and that the periodicity of these processes is regulated endogenously.     

The formation and distribution of ice within dormant and deacclimated peach flower buds

Abstract A freeze-fixation technique was used to examine the distribution of ice crystals and the pattern of freezing in peach flower buds. In dormant buds, ice crystals formed at localized sites within the bud axis and scales. Ice crystal formation disrupted tissues and mechanical injury from repetitive freezethaw cycles was apparent. There was evidence of ice formation in the floral organs of dormant buds exposed to ?25°C but none observed in buds exposed to either ?5 or ?10°C. The distribution of ice crystals was different in deacclimated buds. In addition to large ice crystals within the subtending bud axis and scales, evidence of large crystals within the developing floral organs was noted. These crystals were most prominent in the lower portions of the developing flower and peduncle, and caused a separation of the epidermal layer from adjacent cells. The distribution of ice crystals within both dormant and deacclimated peach flower buds corroborated the results of previous thermal analysis experiments.     

Bud dormancy breaking affects respiration and energy balance of bilberry shoots in the initial stage of growth

Respiration and heat production in the shoots of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) were studied at the beginning of growth after breaking bud dormancy by means of transfer of the shoots to indoor conditions (November–April) and upon natural sprouting in spring (May). The buds released from dormancy at the beginning of winter sprouted slower and showed lower respiratory activity than the buds that started growing in May. In May, cytochrome respiratory pathway in sprouting buds was 1.3 times more active than energetically ineffective alternative pathway, whereas activity of cytochrome pathway in December was 1.4 times lower as compared with the alternative. In November–December, the rate of heat evolution by the buds was 3–5 times lower than in April–May. In case of early breaking of bud dormancy, the share of respiration energy dissipated as heat was 30% on average. In the buds whose growth was induced later, the value of this parameter was twice as much. The ratio between heat evolution and respiration depended on temperature. High temperature more intensely activated heat evolution than respiration, which caused a decrease in the level of metabolic energy available for growth. In the temperature range of 5–15°C characteristic of the beginning of vegetation, the share of respiration energy dissipated as heat was 2–3 times lower than at 20–30°C, which reflects a great adaptability of V. myrtillus to climatic conditions of the region. Our data suggest that progression through a full cycle of winter dormancy is physiologically important for shoot growth. Early dormancy release brought about changes in respiration and energy balance of the shoots in the initial stage of extra-bud growth.     

Effect of frost nights and day and night temperature during dormancy induction on frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage and bud burst in seedlings of Norway spruce

For trees, the ability to obtain and maintain sufficient levels of frost hardiness in late autumn, winter and spring is crucial. We report that temperatures during dormancy induction influence bud set, frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage, timing of bud burst and spring frost hardiness in seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Bud set occurred later in 12°C than in 21°C, and later in cool nights (7°C) than in constant temperature. One weekly frost night (−2.5°C) improved frost hardiness. Cool nights reduced frost hardiness early, but improved hardiness later during cold acclimation. Buds and stems were slightly hardier in 21°C than in 12°C, while needles were clearly hardier in 12°C. Cold daytime temperature, cool nights and one weekly frost night improved cold storability (0.7°C). Seedlings receiving high daytime temperatures burst buds later, and were less injured by light frost some days after bud burst.     

砧木对梨叶芽休眠的影响及其与多胺代谢的关系

以分别嫁接在杜梨和豆梨上的砂梨品种‘丰水’为试材,研究了2008和2009年11～12月气温变化和不同砧木对‘丰水’梨叶芽休眠进程的影响,分析叶芽中游离态和束缚态内源多胺种类和含量的变化,结果表明：嫁接在豆梨上的‘丰水’叶芽自然休眠结束的时间要比嫁接在杜梨上的‘丰水’叶芽早10d左右,且游离态和束缚态腐胺（Put）、戊二胺（Cad）、己二胺（Hex）、亚精胺（Spd）和精胺（Spm）5种内源多胺含量开始升高的时间与供试材料叶芽自然休眠结束的时间一致,表明梨叶芽的休眠进程与砧木种类和多胺代谢有密切关系,尤其是与束缚态多胺含量变化的关系更为密切。     

Bud damage from controlled heat treatments in Quercus garryana

Quercus garryana habitats are increasingly being managed with prescribed fire, but acorn dependent wildlife might be adversely affected if fires damage acorn crops. We examined one way that fire might affect subsequent acorn crops: through direct heating and damage of buds containing the following year’s floral organs. We measured internal bud temperatures during controlled time and temperature treatments, described damage to heated buds at the tissue and cellular levels and quantified spring flowering to assess the consequences of the treatments. We found that internal bud temperature was logarithmically related to exposure time and linearly related to treatment temperature. Tissue damage was more common in bud scales, staminate and bud scale scar primordia than in leaf, pistillate, leaf axillary primordia and apical meristems. Damaged tissues were sequestered by cells with thickened cell walls. A 133°C treatment applied for 60 s produced minimal damage or mortality, but damage increased rapidly in hotter or longer treatments, culminating in 100% mortality at 273°C for 60 s. Our experiments account only for radiative, not convective heating, but suggest that fires might produce sublethal effects that affect flowering and acorn crops. Q. garryana’s large buds possess an internal organ arrangement well suited to minimizing heat damage. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Influence of stock plant pretreatment on gynogenic embryo induction from flower buds of onion

The gynogenic response of a range of onion genotypes to flower bud culture was compared using a two-step culture system. Embryogenic cultures and plantlets were produced from unpollinated ovules in whole flower bud explants 6 to 19 weeks after culture initiation. Preconditioning stock plants significantly influenced gynogenic embryogenesis. A ten-fold increase in embryogenesis was obtained when flower buds were cultured from stock plants maintained at 15 °C compared to 10 °C or the ambient temperature conditions of a glasshouse (maximum-minimum of 25–12.7 °C). A total of 49 embryos was obtained from 2660 cultured flower buds and 45% of plantlets were successfully acclimatised to glasshouse conditions. The majority of acclimatised plantlets were haploid (68%) but spontaneous double haploid plants (23%) were obtained from three genotypes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The influence of cytokinin pulse treatments on adventitious bud formation on vegetative buds of Picea abies

Resting vegetative buds of Picea abies collected from phytotron-grown rooted cuttings of 24-year-old trees or a 12-year-old hedge were tested for their capacity to form adventitious buds after various cytokinin treatments. The most effective method for obtaining a high yield of adventitious buds within 8 weeks was to pulse treat the buds in 250 M BA for 3 h and then culture them on medium containing 5 M each of BA and kinetin for 1 week. The developmental pattern for adventitious bud production, with the formation of 10 to 20 adventitious buds per bud, was similar for all tested genotypes, although the number of buds giving rise to adventitious buds varied significantly. The capability of some clones to form adventitious buds was correlated to endogenous cytokinin content. The clone which contained most endogenous cytokinin in its resting bud had the highest potential for adventitious bud formation.     

Differential adaptation of high- and low-chill dormant peaches in winter through aquaporin gene expression and soluble sugar content

Plants have their own mechanisms for overcoming various stresses. In cold regions, plants are subject to stress and must enter an inherent dormancy, through several complex mechanisms, if they are to continue to exist. In winter, regulation of tonoplast and plasma membrane aquaporin genes differed in the bud cushions of the high-chill peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) cv. Kansuke Hakuto and the low-chill peach cv. Coral. In December and January, when the temperature was lowest (around 2°C), the increased expression of Pp-γTIP1 and Pp-PIP1 seen in the bud cushions of Kansuke Hakuto may have been related to the concomitant high-soluble sugar content of the cushions of this cultivar. This relationship may have made the cells highly stable and relatively unaffected by low-temperature stress owing to the presence of “glasses” that prevented ice nucleation. However, a simpler form of cold protection regulation seemed to occur in Coral, in which there was no winter increase in Pp-γTIP1 and Pp-PIP1 mRNA and a slow decline in total soluble sugar content in December and January. These results suggested that Pp-γTIP1 and Pp-PIP1, respectively, play important roles in intra- and intercellular membrane transport, enhancing cold resistance in the bud cushions of high-chill cultivars. In addition, Pp-δTIP1 and Pp-PIP2 mRNA increased at the end of endodormancy in both cultivars. This change may be induced by endodormancy-release signals and the resumption of bud activity in both cultivars.     

Cold hardiness in various organs and tissues of Rhododendron species and the supercooling ability of flower buds as the most susceptible organ

The freezing resistance of various organs and tissues was determined in 24 Rhododendron species (mainly Subgenus Tsutsutsi) having different ecological distributions. The order of hardiness for organ or tissue is as follows: leaf bud > wood ≧ bark > flower bud, and the flower bud is characterized as the most cold-susceptible organ. The relationship of killing temperature (KT) to northern distribution was the most significant in leaf buds compared to other organs and tissues. KTs of leaf buds for the most hardy species were ?45 °C (or below) and those for the most tender species were about ?23 °C, while KTs of flower buds were about ?28 °C for the former and ?16 °C for the latter. Although KTs of flower buds native to southwestern Japan were well correlated with the exothermic temperature distribution (ETD) of florets, those in the more northern species were generally lower than ETDs. The supercooling ability of flower buds appears to be sufficient to avoid the freezing stress since the extreme minimum temperature (EMT) at the northern limit of natural distribution for each tree species examined was not lower than the KT and ETD of the flower buds.     

短时间高温处理下桃树活性氧代谢与桃芽自然休眠解除的关系

以6年生曙光油桃为试验材料,研究40 ℃、45 ℃、50 ℃ 3个梯度高温短时间处理对桃树花芽和叶芽存活率、萌芽级数、活性氧含量及其相关酶活性的影响,探讨短时间高温处理对桃芽自然休眠解除的调控效应.结果表明：随着短时间高温处理时期的延后以及处理温度的升高和处理持续时间的延长,高温处理对桃芽自然休眠的解除作用增强.11月30日处理中,40 ℃处理对桃芽自然休眠的解除具有负调控效应,其萌芽级数、·OH和 O₂^-.产生速率、H₂O₂含量、过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性均低于对照,而超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性高于对照;45 ℃和50 ℃处理对桃芽自然休眠的解除呈正调控效应,其萌芽级数、·OH和 O₂^-·产生速率、H₂O₂含量及POD、CAT活性与对照相比明显升高,而SOD活性显著降低.12月10日处理中,40 ℃处理对桃芽自然休眠解除的调控效应不明显,45 ℃和50 ℃处理与11月30日处理相同,但前者对桃芽自然休眠的调控效果优于后者.相关分析表明,活性氧的迅速增加可能是高温解除桃芽自然休眠的原因.     

“Lateral Control”: Phytohormone Relations in the Conifer Treetop and the Short- and Long-Term Effects of Bud Excision in Abies nordmanniana

In a conifer tree, such as Nordmann fir, Abies nordmanniana Spach, the leader bud and its immediate surroundings play a decisive role in crown architecture. As subapical branch buds are segregated from the leader meristem, resource allocation between ortho- and plagiotropic growth is determined. The relationship between treetop buds in young trees was studied in the natural state and after surgical removal in early July of either the leader bud (decapitation) or the subapical whorl branch buds (destipitation). The two bud types showed consistent cytokinin profile differences but similar seasonal dynamics in cytokinins and auxin (IAA). After bud excision, ZRP increased dramatically in the subapical stem within 1 h, followed by ZR within 1 week. Supernormal levels of ZR were maintained through autumn and persisted in spring in the destipitated trees, but had returned to normal in the decapitated trees. The treetop buds remaining after bud excision experienced an immediate decrease in most cytokinins, followed, however, by a large surplus later in the season. The following spring this high level persisted in the leader bud of destipitated trees, but not in whorl buds of decapitated trees. Conspicuous growth pattern changes followed from destipitation, but few from decapitation. Growth reactions suggest that resource allocation to main branch buds inhibits leader growth in normal trees, a kind of “lateral control.” Auxin and ABA content in buds and stems was largely unaffected by treatments. Data suggest that subapical leader tissues beneath the apical bud group are a primary source of cytokinin regulation.