Varietal differences in the formation of branch crowns in strawberry plants

Abstract

The effects of removing apices on the development of branch crowns were studied in 'Tochiotome' and 'Nyoho' strawberry plants to estimate their ability to produce branch crowns at a later stage of growth. Nodes were numbered from the base; node 1 was designated as the node of the oldest leaf of the plant. More stolons were formed in 'Nyoho' than in 'Tochiotome' during the flower-induction treatment. Axillary buds at nodes 1 to 4 were dormant in most 'Tochiotome' plants; those at nodes 3 and 5 were dormant in about one third of 'Nyoho' plants. Few branch crowns were formed in the basal parts of the main crowns of both cultivars. Removing apices increased the number of branch crowns below node 1 in 'Tochiotome', but not in 'Nyoho'. The results indicate that the inhibitory effects of apical dominance on the growth of axillary buds are stronger in 'Tochiotome' than in 'Nyoho'. It is likely that the greater production of basal branch crowns in 'Tochiotome' at the later stage is associated with strong apical dominance.