Study on the pattern of vegetative growth in young dioecious trees of Idesia polycarpa maxim

Abstract

Abstract Key message The dioeciousIdesia polycarpaall that males and females do not invest in the same way in growth and branching in quantity, type of axes and in time (annual growth and sequence of these events over time). Abstract The annual growth of plants is an important indicator for growth and development, especially for younger trees. The aim of this study was to decide the physiological basis for vegetative growth effects on the trunk and crown development in Idesia polycarpa by assessing the effects on variations in bud growth, leaf, and canopy size. This study focused on the annual vegetative growth of young (3-year old) female and male I. polycarpa Maxim trees and their functions are separate. The phenology provides a challenge in the production of resources (seed, oil) and to investigate the effect of sexual specialization. Here we describe the variations between two sexes in terms of vegetative growth in our field studies. The study began in the sprouting season with observations of the gradual growth of the newly sprouting buds. The length of expansion, diameter growth, and leaf production from the terminal bud (TB), lateral terminal bud (LTB) of the first tier of branches (1Y), second tier of branches (2Y), and third tier of branches (3Y) of the trees were measured. The results showed growth differences between female and male groups in the growing year. The length of shoot expansion, diameter, and leaf production were higher for female trees than for male trees. Male trees grew more long and short branches (SB) than the female trees, with large numbers of short branches on the 1Y and 2Y of the male trees. Further investigation needed to analyze factors of annual fluctuation of the shoot expansion of the tree, with more studies investigating complex branching phenomenon, flowering, and fruit production in I. polycarpa Maxim.