Apical Dominance Control in Ipomoea nil: The Influence of the Shoot Apex, Leaves and Stem

The outgrowth of lateral buds is known to be controlled by theupper shoot tissues, which include the apex, the young leavesand the upper stem. An analysis of the influence of these plantparts on axillary bud elongation in Ipomoea nil was carriedout by various treatments on these specific tissues. A restriction of elongation in the main shoot due to eitherdecapitation or shoot inversion resulted in the release of apicaldominance A non-linear type of compensating growth relationshipwas observed between the 13 cm apical growing region of thestem and the lateral buds. It was determined by decapitation,defoliation and AgNO₃ treatments that both the 13 cm stem-growthregion and the young leaves (1–5 cm in length) had a muchgreater inhibitory influence on the outgrowth of specified lateralbuds than did the stem apex (consisting of the terminal 0.5cm of the shoot). The specified lateral buds which were analyzedfor outgrowth were located a number of nodes below the shootapex. The intervening nodes were debudded. Although the importanceof young leaves in the control of apical dominance has beenpreviously recognized, the most significant result from thepresent study with Ipomoea was the strong influence of the 13cm apical growth region of the stem on the out growth of thelateral buds. Apical dominance, Ipomoea nil L., Pharbitis nil, growth region, lateral bud outgrowth, decapitation, defoliation, shoot inversion     

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL POLARITY IN REGENERATION. II

1. The experiments show that the mass of air roots formed in a stem increases with the mass of the leaf attached to the stem, though it has not been possible to establish an exact mathematical relation between the two masses, owing to unavoidable sources of error. 2. Darkened leaves do not increase the mass of roots formed. 3. In stems suspended horizontally air roots appear on the lower side of the stem, with the exception of the cut end where they usually appear around the whole circumference of the stem. When the lower half of a stem suspended horizontally is cut off, roots are formed on the upper side. It is shown by experiments on leaves suspended horizontally that the more rapidly growing roots and shoots on the lower side inhibit the root and shoot formation in the upper half of such a leaf; and likewise the more rapid formation of roots on the lower side of a horizontally suspended stem seems to account for the inhibition of root formation on the upper side of such a stem. Likewise the more rapid growth of shoots on the upper side of a stem suspended horizontally is likely to inhibit the growth of shoots on the lower side. 4. Each leaf contains in its axil a preformed bud capable of giving rise to a root, which never grows out in the normal stem on account of the inhibitory influence of the normal roots at the base of the plant. These dormant root buds are situated above (apically from) the dormant shoot bud. The apical root buds can be caused to develop into air roots when a piece of stem is cut out from a plant from which the leaves except those in the basal node of the piece are removed. The larger these basal leaves the better the experiments succeed. 5. These apical air roots grow out in a few days, while the roots at the basal end of the stem (which in our experiments dip into water) grow out about a week later. As soon as the basal roots grow out in water they cause the air roots in the more apical region of the stem to dry out and to disappear. 6. In addition to the basal roots, basal nodes have also an inhibitory effect on the growth of the dormant root buds in the apical region of a stem. This is indicated by the fact that a stem with one pair of leaves near the base will form apical air roots more readily when no node is situated on the stem basally from the leaf than if there is a node basally from the leaf.     

The Effect of Bud Position on Branch Growth and Bud Abscission in Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.

The time at which a bud began to expand was related to its positionnot only on an individual shoot but also within the crown. Thedistribution of buds and branches on the shoot was uneven; theshoot tip, where they were densely clustered, was termed the‘whorl; and the remainder of the shoot, where they werewidely spaced, the ‘interwhorl’ stem. In spring,the terminal bud started expanding before the ‘whorl’buds which preceded the ‘interwhorl’ stem buds;completion of the flush of growth, determined by the end ofleaf expansion, occurred in the reverse order, ‘interwhorl’> ‘whorl’ > terminal. Similarly bud expansionstarted at the top of the crown and progressed downwards, andthe first shoots to complete their flush were at the bottomof the crown. Approximately 60% of the buds on each shoot beganexpanding in spring but only about half of these formed branches.Bud abscission began in May and by Sep. 45% of buds originallypresent had abscised. Most of-the buds that did not abscisewere the small buds at the base of the shoot that were not originallyassociated with a leaf. Approximately 42% of ‘whorl’buds and 28% of MnterwhorP stem buds formed branches. ‘Whorl’branches were approx. 60% longer that ‘interwhorl’stem branches; buds on the lower surface of the shoot producedlonger branches than those on the upper surface. The implicationsof the results for the development of crown form and selectionof superior oak are discussed. Quercus petraea, oak, buds, branches, crown form     

Tiller Bud Suppression in Reproductive Plants of Lolium multiflorum Lam. Cv. Westerwoldicum

The control of tiller bud growth during reproductive developmentwas investigated in experimental plants ofLolium multiflorumLam. cv. Westerwoldicum that were reduced to a main axis havinga developing but unemerged ear, elongating stem internodes,a series of expanded leaves, slow-growing tiller buds and aroot system. Isolation of the ear by excision of its base, ordecapitation so as to remove the ear together with the upperleaves, promoted the movement of ¹⁴C-assimilates to tiller buds,decapitation being the more effective treatment. Applicationof 0.1 per cent indol–3yl-acetic acid (IAA) to cut tissuesof decapitated plants diverted ¹⁴C-assimilates to upper internodesbut did not reduce import by buds, whereas application of 1.0per cent IAA both diverted labelled assimilates to upper internodesand reduced bud import. Radioactivity from [¹⁴C] IAA appliedto the upper leaves or to the ear base was recovered from budsin very small amounts; larger amounts were recovered from budsfollowing the application of labelled IAA to an elongating internode,especially from the bud at the base of the treated internode.It is suggested that tiller bud suppression may be influencedby the movement of inhibitory levels of auxin into buds fromnearby elongating stem internodes, whose activity in turn maybe controlled by the developing inflorescence and upper leaves.     

Basipetal Gradient of Axillary Bud Inhibition Along a Rose (Rosa hybridaL.) Stem: Growth Potential of Primary Buds and their Two Most Basal Secondary Buds as Affected by Position and Age

InRosa hybridaL. cv. Ruidriko ‘Vivaldi’®, theeffect of position on growth and development potentials of axillarybuds was investigated by single internode cuttings excised alongthe floral stem and its bearing shoot. The experiments werecarried out in both glasshouses and in a phytotron. The studyfirstly concerned the development of the primary shoot fromthe onset of bud growth until anthesis. The primary shoot wasthen bent horizontally to promote the growth of the two mostproximal secondary buds, the collateral buds, already differentiatedinside the primary bud. They gave rise to basal shoots. In thebasipetal direction, the axillary buds along the floral stemexhibited both an increase in the lag time before bud growthand a decrease in bud growth percentage, demonstrating the existenceof a physiological basipetal gradient of inhibition intrinsicto the buds or due to short range correlations. The same basipetalgradient of inhibition was observed along the floral stem andits bearing shoot, demonstrating that the age of the bud wasnot a major factor in determining the rate of bud growth. Afterbending the primary shoot, the percentage of collateral budgrowth was also affected by the cutting position. The more proximalthe cutting, the lower the sprouting ability of collateral buds.The growth potential of these buds appeared to be already determinedinside the main bud before cutting excision.Copyright 1998 Annalsof Botany Company Axillary bud; basal shoot; cutting; development; endodormancy; growth; paradormancy; position; primary shoot;Rosa hybridaL.; rose; secondary bud; topophysis.     

Dormancy and spring development of lateral buds in mulberry (Morus alba)

Patterns of spring development of lateral buds of mulberry (Morus alba L. cv. Shin-ichinose) coppice shoots on 11-year-old low-pruned stumps varied in response to girdling, pruning and arching. The erect controls showed a weak acrotonic (apex-favoring) growth habit, in which the majority of the buds, including the basal ones, sprouted and elongated in mid- and late April, and hence there was a prolonged imposition of dominance on the upper laterals in mid- and late May. In contrast, early spring girdling or pruning enhanced the activity of the upper buds of the proximal (lower) halves of the girdled stems or of the pruned stems, resulting in considerable dominance of the laterals from such buds in late April. Arching markedly inhibited buds on the under side of the arched stems, leading to poor shoots. By late April, the buds on the adaxial (upper) side readily grew into new vertical shoots, which dominated over the lateral ones. When studied by a multiple-node-cutting test, increased length of segments of post-dormant mulberry stems was accompanied by decreased bud activity of the segments and by decreased breaking ability of the lower buds within the segments, suggesting the importance of roots in the weak acrotonic habit of the erect stem in spring. By contrast, the acropetal influences of the attached stems can in part affect dominance relationships, perhaps mediated through competition for factors translocated from the roots. Continuous basal applications of abscisic acid inhibited bud break and shoot growth of the postdormant stem segments, but these inhibitory effects could be reversed by applied gibberellic acid A₃ (GA₃). Two phases of lateral bud dormancy in erect mulberry coppice shoots were identified. The first was characterized by a smaller breaking capacity in the upper buds than in the lower ones and hence by a basitonic (base-favoring) gradient in bud growth potential. The second phase corresponded to a restoration of these capabilities in the upper buds and to a change towards a linear gradient in bud growth potential, with disappearance of the dormant condition, in February and March. This gradient change during dormancy release may represent the physiological basis for the weak acrotonic habit of erect mulberry stems in spring.     

Factors Controlling the Basipetal Pattern of Tuberization in Induced Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cuttings

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cvs Chippewa and Katahdin)were grown in a glasshouse under continuous light. Various numbersof long (16 h) nights were given to these plants and stem cuttingswere taken. Treatments were applied to the cuttings, which werethen placed in a mist bench under continuous light and examinedfor tuberization after 12 days. The general tendency for the strongest tuberization to occurat the most basipetal nodes, which is commonly seen with intactpotato plants, was also found on stem cuttings. This patterncould not be attributed primarily to orientation with respectto gravity, proximity to the mother tuber, or age of buriedbuds. Buried buds farthest from active leaves tended to tuberizethe most strongly. However, distance of the buried bud fromstem exposed to light may have been of equal or greater importance. potato, Solanum tuberosum L., stem cuttings, tuberization     

Lateral bud development and shoot growth in low-pruned Morus alba as affected by stem orientation

Two phases of bud activity were identified in the new growth of one-year-old erect coppice shoots on 11-year-old low-pruned stumps of mulberry (Morus alba L. cv. Shin-ichinose) in spring, the sprouting phase in which the majority of the buds, including the basal ones, sprout and elongate, and the dominance phase (starting 4–5 weeks after sprouting) during which the upper laterals begin to assert dominance and suppress the growth of lower laterals, becoming new leading shoots. In contrast, arching before sprouting markedly inhibited buds on the under side, leading to poor shoots. By late April, the sprouts on the upper side grew readily into new erect shoots, resulting in considerable dominance over those from the lateral sides. Of these erect shoots, those located closer to the stem base grew more in May and June. The effects of arching made during the sprouting phase (late April) on bud activity and shoot lengths were generally similar to those of earlier archings before spring bud bursting. Separation of the shoots from the upper and under sides by longitudinal, horizontal splitting of the arched stems in late April did not affect the inhibited elongation of the shoots from the under side. These results suggest that in the response to arching before and in late April, the effects are related to spring bud bursting and gravimorphism. In contrast, arching during and after the dominance phase (May) had no gravimorphic effects on growth of the shoots on the upper side, although there was a stimulation of outbreak of the buds on the upper side, which remained dormant during spring bud bursting. Continuous basal applications of abscisic acid in aqueous solution inhibited bud break and shoot growth of the postdormant erect stem segments, and defoliation of the new shoots markedly. In contrast, similar applications of an ethylene-releasing compound, Ethephon, depressed shoot elongation slightly, but enhanced defoliation greatly. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) stimulated shoot elongation, but depressed leaf enlargement.     

Dwarfism Caused by Floral-Bud Removal in Petunia and its Reversal by Gibberellin

The effect of floral-bud removal at different stages of developmenton the plant height and on the total number of buds of Petuniawas studied. Continuous removal of all the floral buds 2 d beforeanthesis caused a marked decrease in plant height and also increasedthe total number of floral buds formed thereafter. At otherstages of floral bud development, bud removal had a lesser effecton both phenomena. Moreover, the plants did not respond to budremoval at anthesis. GA₃ at 25 ppm applied to plants from which the buds had beenremoved, promoted stem elongation. The most pronounced effectwas on plants from which the buds were removed 2 d before anthesis,but it had no effect on plants from which the buds were removedat anthesis stage. The possible involvement of endogenous growth hormones in theresponse of Petunia plants to floral-bud removal and to applicationof GA₃ is discussed. Bud removal, bud number, dwarfness, GA₃, Petunia, plant height     

Regulation of Branching in Decussate Species with Unequal Lateral Buds

In the decussate plants Alternanthera philoxeroides and Hygrophilasp. the opposite axillary bud primordia are of unequal sizefrom the time of their inception; the larger or + buds lie alongone helix and the smaller or – buds along another (helicoidalsystem). In decapitated plants of Alternanthera both buds grewout, but unequally; if the node was vertically split growthof the two shoots was more equal, and if the + buds were excisedgrowth of the – shoots approximately equalled that ofcontrol + shoots. In decapitated shoots of Hygrophila grownin sterile culture only one bud, the + or larger one, grew outat each of the upper nodes. In excised cultured nodes, also,only the + bud grew out; but if the nodes were split longitudinallyboth buds grew out, initially rather unequally. These experimentssupport the view that the regulation of branching in these specieshas two components, apical dominance and the dominance of thelarger (+) bud over the smaller (–) bud at the same node.The restriction of growth potentiality imposed on the –bud is not permanent but can be modified. Further correlativeeffects on bud outgrowth include those of the subtending leavesand of buds at other nodes.     

THE NATURE OF THE DIRECTIVE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF ORGANS IN REGENERATION

1. When leaves of Bryophyllum calycinum are suspended in moist air in a vertical plane and sidewise, roots and shoots are formed exclusively or predominate in the notches on the lower side of the leaves. When pieces of stems of the same plant are suspended horizontally in moist air, roots develop on the lower side of the stem, with the exception of the extreme basal end where they may develop on both sides. 2. The writer has suggested in a preceding paper that this directive influence of gravity on the arrangement of the regenerating organs may be due to the combination of two factors. The first factor is gravity, which causes a slightly greater collection of sap on the lower side of these organs, and as a consequence roots develop a little more quickly on the lower than on the upper side. The second factor is of an inhibitory character inasmuch as quite generally organs which grow out first, or which grow quickly, have a tendency to retard or inhibit the growth of similar organs in other places. 3. The writer was able to prove the action of this inhibitory factor by cutting off the lower edges of leaves suspended sidewise in a vertical plane or the lower halves of stems suspended in a horizontal plane (in moist air). In this case roots developed as abundantly on the upper side of these organs as they otherwise would have developed on the lower side. 4. It was, however, still necessary to prove the idea that gravity causes sap to collect in larger quantity in the lower parts of organs. This gap is filled by the present paper in which it is shown, first, that in the leaves suspended in moist air a red pigment is formed which has a tendency to collect gradually in the lowest parts of the leaf when the latter is suspended in a vertical plane. This red pigment serves as an indicator for the distribution of sap in the leaf and thus shows directly the tendency of the sap to collect in greater abundance on the lower edge of a leaf suspended in a vertical plane. Second, it is shown that when leaves or stems of Bryophyllum are suspended, in the way described, under water instead of in moist air, roots develop on the upper side as well as on the lower side. The directive effect of gravity upon the arrangement of organs disappears in this case since the abundance of the outside water makes the effect of a slight difference in the distribution of sap between the upper and lower side a negligible factor. Third, it is shown that the dry weight of the lower half of leaves suspended sidewise for several weeks in moist air in a vertical plane is greater than that of the upper half when roots and shoots are formed on the lower side only. This indicates that material from the upper half flows into the growing organs of the lower half. No such difference between upper and lower half of leaf is found when the leaves are suspended in the same way in water and roots and shoots are formed on both sides of the leaf. 5. It is shown that when a leaf connected with a piece of stem is suspended in moist air the red pigment goes into the stem instead of collecting in the lower part of the leaf, thus supporting the view expressed in a preceding paper that the inhibitory action of the stem on the root and shoot formation in a leaf of Bryophyllum is due to the fact that the material available in the leaf for organ formation is naturally sent into the stem.     

Supercooling Ability, Water Content and Hardiness of Rhododendron Flower Buds during Cold Acclimation and Deacclimation

The relationship between supercooling ability and water contentand killing temperature of flower buds during cold acclimationand deacclimation were studied using R. kiusianum and R. x akebono.The occurrence of multiple floret exotherms and their shiftto a narrow range at lower subzero temperatures, as well asthe marked decrease of florets water content, were observedas the symptoms of cold acclimation occuring in flower budsfrom fall to winter, and vice versa in spring buds during deacclimation.In R. kiusianum, the fully acclimated period was from Novemberto March and two months longer than that of R. x akebono. Thesupercooling ability of the former was about –25°Cand about –20°C in the latter. Although the watermigration within bud tissues during the freezing process wasdetermined in the acclimated and deacclimated buds for R. xakebono, no significant water changes could be observed, evenin the acclimated buds. Thus, it is conceivable that deep supercoolingin florets may result not necessarily from water migration fromflorets and bud axes to scales in response to freezing, butfrom low water content in situ of cold-acclimated or artificiallydehydrated flower buds. (Received July 29, 1981; Accepted October 12, 1981)     

Topophysis affects the Potential of Axillary Bud Growth, Fresh Biomass Accumulation and Specific Fresh Weight in Single-stem Roses (Rosa hybrida L.)

Topophysis, the effect on growth and differentiation of positionof axillary buds along the shoot, was studied by propagatingfive-leaflet-leaf single-node cuttings which were excised fromseven stem positions and grown as single stemmed plants. InRosahybrida ‘Korokis’ Kiss®, ‘Tanettahn’Manhattan Blue®, and ‘Sweet Promise’ Sonia®,following release of the buds from apical dominance by excision,morphogenetic development was studied until anthesis. The timefrom excision/planting until onset of bud growth, visible flowerbud appearance, and anthesis was generally shorter in plantsoriginating from apical bud positions than from basipetal positions.Topophysis mainly affected the onset of axillary bud growth;the earliest growth and development was found in cuttings fromthe second uppermost node position. This node tended to havethe lowest plastochron value, which indicated the existenceof a transition between sylleptic and proleptic buds. Stem lengthat visible flower bud and at anthesis generally increased asthe cutting position changed basipetally until the second lowestposition, and the number of five-leaflet-leaves at anthesisand the total number of nodes generally increased basipetally.For internode length, growth rate, and fresh biomass efficiencythe cuttings taken from the uppermost and lowermost positionsgenerally had significantly lower values than cuttings fromall medial positions. At anthesis, plants originating from cuttingsexcised from lower medial positions generally had a higher freshweight, greater flower stem diameter, and a significantly higherspecific fresh weight than those plants originating from apicalor basal positions. Among the cultivars, Sonia was the mostefficient in increasing fresh biomass and had the highest growthrate, whereas Manhattan Blue possessed the highest specificfresh weight, indicating a higher plant quality. It is suggestedthat topophysis inRosa is an independent phenomenon intrinsicto the axillary bud. apical dominance; axillary bud growth; fresh biomass accumulation; cut rose; flowering; Rosaceae; Rosa hybrida L.; rose; shoot growth; single-stem roses; specific fresh weight; topophysis; quality     

Adventitious bud formation on leaf and stem segments of Heloniopsis orientalis grown at various temperatures

The effect of different temperatures on bud formation in excisedleaf fragments and in stem segments of Heloniopsis orientalis,a monocotyledonous plant, was investigated in light and in darkness.The optimal temperature for bud formation was 21?C to 25?C.16?C pretreatment for 7 to 21 days promoted bud formation inleaf segments. 30?C pretreatment for 7 days or more reducedthe number of buds in both young etiolated and mature greenleaf segments but not in young green leaf segments. In younggreen leaf segments grown in darkness, however, 30?C pretreatmentreduced the number of buds. Inhibition of bud formation dueto high temperature could not be reversed by BA. (Received November 15, 1978; )     

Properties of peach flower buds which facilitate supercooling

Water in dormant peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch. var. `Harbrite') flower buds deep supercooled. Both supercooling and the freezing of water within the bud axis and primordium as distinct components depended on the viability of the bud axis tissue. The viability of the primordium was not critical. Supercooling was prevented by wounding buds with a dissecting needle, indicating that bud structural features were important. Bud morphological features appeared to prevent the propagation of ice through the vascular tissue and into the primordium. In dormant buds, procambial cells had not yet differentiated into xylem vessel elements. Xylem continuity between the bud primordium and adjacent tissues did not appear to be established until buds had deacclimated. It was concluded that structural, morphological, and physiological features of the bud facilitated supercooling.     

Effect of Assimilate Supply on Development and Growth Potential of Axillary Buds in Roses

The effect of assimilate supply on axillary bud developmentand subsequent shoot growth was investigated in roses. Differencesin assimilate supply were imposed by differential defoliation.Fresh and dry mass of axillary buds increased with increasedassimilate supply. The growth potential of buds was studiedeither by pruning the parent shoot above the bud, by graftingthe bud or by culturing the bud in vitro. Time until bud breakwas not clearly affected by assimilate supply during bud development,Increase in assimilate supply slightly increased the numberof leaves and leaf primordia in the bud; the number of leavespreceding the flower on the shoot grown from the axillary budsubstantially increased. No difference was found in the numberof leaves preceding the flower on shoots grown from buds attachedto the parent shoot and those from buds grafted on a cutting,indicating that at the moment of release from inhibition thebud meristem became determined to produce a specific numberof leaves and to develop into a flower. Assimilate supply duringaxillary bud development increased the number of pith cells,but the final size of the pith in the subsequent shoot was largelydetermined by cell enlargement, which was dependent on assimilatesupply during shoot growth. Shoot growth after release frominhibition was affected by assimilate supply during axillarybud development only when buds sprouted attached to the parentshoot, indicating that shoot growth is, to a major extent, dependenton the assimilate supply available while growth is taking place.Copyright1994, 1999 Academic Press Assimilate supply, axillary bud, cell number, cell size, defoliation, development, growth potential, meristem programming, pith, Rosa hybrida, rose, shoot growth     

The Dormancy of Buds of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Inserted into Rootstock Stems: Factors Intrinsic to the Inserted Bud

Buds of sweet orange, harvested from shoots of different timeof flushing and from different positions along the shoot, wereused to examine whether lack of burst of inserted buds was acharacteristic of the bud. Bursting of inserted buds was significantlyslower in buds taken from (a) older branches (b) shoots producedunder winter conditions, and (c) basal rather than apical budson the same shoot. The slowness to burst when transferred matched a tendency todormancy in buds on shoot segments grown in vitro, suggestingthat the variation in budburst was intrinsic to the bud. Budburstwas correlated with the extent of secondary bud development;the majority of buds from apical regions of the shoot had developeda secondary bud by the time of implantation, but basal budshad not. Adequate vascular connections with the host tissueswere found in both burst and unburst buds. Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, sweet orange, buds, endodormancy, budding     

Physiological and Hormonal Factors Influencing Organogenesis in Rudbeckia bicolor Explants Cultured In vitro

Factors influencing organogenetic responses and bolting of adventitiouslyformed buds were investigated in in vitro cultured cotyledon,stem and leaf explants of Rudbeckia bicolor. Application ofnaphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) induced adventitious root formationand that of benzyladenine (BA) induced adventitious bud differentiation.When NAA at a low concentration was added together with BA,bud initiation and development were promoted further, althoughoptimal concentrations of NAA and BA varied with the kind ofexplants used. Gibberellic acid caused stem elongation of adventitiousbuds, and occasionally differentiation of floral buds on theapices of developed shoots. The action of N-phenyl-N'-(4-pyridyl)urea(4PU) and its derivative (4PU-Cl) on adventitious bud formationwas also examined. (Received August 8, 1981; Accepted November 9, 1981)     

Influence of Bud Position and Plant Ontogeny on the Morphology of Branch Shoots in Pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska)

The morphology of axillary shoots of pea plants (Pisum sativumL. cv. Alaska) was analysed as a function of the position ofthe bud on the plant axis and the stage of plant developmentwhen the buds began to grow. Buds from the three most basalnodes were stimulated to develop by decapitating the main shootwhen buds were still growing (4 d plants), shortly after budsbecame dormant (7 d plants) or after the initiation of floweringon the main shoot (post-flowering plants, about 21 d after sowing).Branch shoots were scored for node of floral initiation (NFI),shoot length, and node of multiple leaflets (NML), a measureof leaf complexity. Shoots that developed spontaneously fromupper nodes (nodes 5-9) on intact post-flowering plants werescored for NFI. NFI for basal buds on 4 and 7 d plants variedas a function of nodal position and ranged from 5 to 6·7nodes. NFI on these plants was not influenced by bud size orwhether a bud was growing or dormant when the plant was decapitated.NFI for shoots derived from basal buds on decapitated post-floweringplants and upper nodes on intact post-flowering plants was about4. Reduced NFI on post-flowering plants may be due to depletionof a cotyledon-derived floral inhibitor. Basal axillary shootson 4 d plants were about 20% longer than those on 7 d plantsand about five times longer than those on post-flowering plants.These differences may be due to depletion of gibberellic acidsfrom the cotyledons. NFI and NML for the main shoot and forbasal axillary shoots were similar under some experimental conditionsbut different under other conditions, so it is likely that eachdevelopmental transition is regulated independently.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Apical dominance, bud development, garden pea, initiation of flowering, Pisum sativum L., shoot morphology