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Promotion of cone and seed production on Sitka spruce by gibberellin application
Author(s) -
TOMPSETT P. B.,
FLETCHER A. M.,
ARNOLD GILLIAN M.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1980.tb03958.x
Subject(s) - biology , strobilus , gibberellin , whorl (mollusc) , germination , botany , horticulture , genus
SUMMARY Gibberellin mixtures were applied to large, mature scions of Sitka spruce, growing in the open at Wauchope Tree Bank in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Large increases in coning and seed production, and in the numbers of clones producing seed, occurred in the year after treatment. Cone and seed yields varied with the timing and concentration of hormone treatment, and were greatest when applications were made in the top two branch whorls on the tree. Clonal differences in seed production were observed among gibberellin‐treated branches. Seed quality, judged by seed weight and percentage germination, appeared normal. Promotion of male strobili was greater in lower branch whorls than in the top branch whorl on the tree. Ways in which these findings can be applied in breeding and seed production are discussed.