Growth of dormant buds on severed rhizomes of Calamagrostis canadensis

Abstract

The regeneration potential and dormancy of lateral buds on rhizome segments near the parent shoot base or the distal rhizome apex of Calamagrostis canadensis were assessed. Apical and basal segments of various length, with and without the parental shoot base or rhizome apex attached, were planted 1 cm deep in loam soil. When the apex or base was attached axillary buds on the rhizome usually remained dormant. When the parental shoot base was excised, the bud closest to the rhizome base was more likely to sprout than more distal buds. When the apex was excised from the apical segments, more axillary buds emerged but no priority of bud development arose. Buds near the apex position generally had a higher frequency of sprouting than buds adjacent to the parental base. Rhizome segments adjacent to the apex were heavier and had a higher nonstructural carbohydrate content than rhizome segments adjacent to the parental base. Key words: Calamagrostis canadensis, rhizome, dormancy, apical dominance, competition