Bud development in coastal Douglas-fir seedlings under controlled-environment conditions

Abstract

Bud development under controlled-environment conditions in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings was investigated. In eight dormancy induction treatments, type of short, day, temperature, and moisture varied. Photoperiod was decreased to 8 h either abruptly (abrupt short day) or gradually (gradual short day). Temperature was either constant at a high temperature or gradually decreased to a low temperature. Moisture was controlled either to result in no moisture stress or to cause moisture stress. Once a dormancy induction signal was perceived by seedlings, neoformed-leaf initiation stopped and bud development began. Bud development involved two stages of primordial initiation (bud scale and leaf) separated by a transitional phase. The change from neoformed-leaf to bud-scale initiation was faster, fewer bud scales were initiated, and the development of the bud-scale complex was faster under abrupt short day than under gradual short day. The transitional phase was shorter and hence leaf initiation began earlier under abrupt short day than under gradual short day and under no moisture stress than under moisture stress. More leaf primordia were initiated under abrupt short day than under gradual short day and under no moisture stress than under moisture stress. The bud-scale receptacle was concave under abrupt short day and convex under gradual short day. Crown height was greater under abrupt short day than under gradual short day.