Growth Dynamics and Morphology of Annual Shoots, According to their Architectural Position, in Young Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière (Pinaceae)

• Published in: Annals of botany Vol. 84; no. 3; pp. 387 - 392
• Main Authors: SABATIER, SYLVIE, BARTHÉLÉMY, DANIEL
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Science Ltd 01.09.1999; Academic Press Limited; Oxford Publishing Limited (England); Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Subjects: Architecture; Atlas cedar, extension growth, sylleptic branching, tree architecture, morphology; Botanics; Branching; buds; Cedrus atlantica; Coniferous forests; Growing seasons; growth; growth period; growth rate; length; Life Sciences; Phyllotaxis; Pinaceae; Pine trees; Plant growth; Plant morphology; shoots; stem form; Tree growth; Trees; Vegetal Biology; Atlas cedar, extension growth, sylleptic branching, tree architecture, morphology; ARCHITECTURE VEGETALE
• ISSN: 0305-7364; 1095-8290
• DOI: 10.1006/anbo.1999.0939

The influence of shoot architectural position on growth and branching pattern of young Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carriere trees were studied. Extension growth and type of axillary products (lateral bud, sylleptic short or long shoots) of annual shoots of increasing branching order (main stem, branches and branchlets) were recorded weekly during the 1993 growing season. Annual final shoot length, duration of extension, and maximum extension rate decreased with increasing branching order. Sylleptic axillary shoots occurred only on annual shoots of the main stem and branches and were produced when extension rate was at its highest. Differences in growth rate and final length of annual shoots, according to their architectural position, were related to differences in the total number and diversity of types of sylleptic axillary shoots produced. It is suggested that types and numbers of sylleptic axillary shoots produced are linked with threshold values for both final length and extension rate of the parent shoot.