Shoot development in Betula papyrifera. II. Comparison of vegetative and reproductive short-shoot growth

Abstract

Short shoots of Betula papyrifera Marsh, may be vegetative or reproductive. The latter bear a female inflorescence. Early flushing and rapid growth of short-shoot buds depend on the age and position of the short shoot. Axillary short-shoot buds flush later than 2- to 4-year-old short-shoot terminal buds, which in turn flush later than 5- to 10-year-old shoots. Mean relative growth rate (RGR) of 5- to 10-year-old short-shoot buds is greater than that of younger short-shoot buds. It is suggested that older short-shoot buds are relatively autonomous and that the flushing long shoot exhibits an inhibitory influence on the proximal axillary buds and possibly on young short-shoot terminal buds. Reproductive short shoots differ from vegetative short shoots in that they have lower leaf area ratios and leaf RGR, higher specific leaf area, smaller leaf areas, and fewer side nerve pairs and they grow more in length than in width. These findings are related to reproductive cost. The developing inflorescences act as preferred "sinks" for resource allocation.