Promoting bud development in balsam fir Christmas trees with 6-benzylaminopurine

Abstract

The entire crown of variously fertilized, unsheared Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill. trees was sprayed once or twice weekly for 2, 4, or 8 weeks with an aqueous solution of 0 or 600 mg 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) L−1 containing 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 13.5% methanol, and 0.1% Tween 20, starting at different times during the period of shoot elongation. In the year of application, BAP inhibited the elongation of the current-year shoot, increased the number of lateral buds formed on this shoot, and induced lammas growth. Both BAP and the carrier solution caused some phytotoxicity in current-year needles. Responses to BAP treatment varied markedly with genotype, whorl position, and time of application, and decreased with mineral deficiency, and decreasing BAP dosage. After overwintering, many of the BAP-induced lateral buds elongated, resulting in an increased number of shoots, hence in a denser crown.