Growth Responses of Common Ash Seedlings (Fraxinus excelsior L.) to Total and Partial Defoliation

Abstract

Common ash seedlings, grown in controlled conditions, were completely defoliated 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100d after the completion of stem elongation. Complete defoliation up to 80d after the completion of stem elongation caused renewed growth of terminal buds. The buds had changed from a reversible state to an irreversible state by 80d after the cessation of stem elongation, as shown by the lack of response to defoliation. When leaves were removed before the cessation of stem elongation, rather than after, a similar enhancement of stem growth was observed. Partial defoliation experiments indicated that the degree and location of defoliation play important roles in the plant response. Complete defoliation or complete removal of leaflets was necessary to obtain 100% budburst. Apical dominance was altered by partial defoliation treatments such that the basal axillary buds began to grow out. Partial defoliation, especially before the cessation of stem elongation, was prejudicial to stem elongation. These results suggest that the induction of compensatory growth mechanisms in ash seedlings require a threshold level of defoliation.