Shoot development in Betula papyrifera. IV. Comparisons between growth characteristics and expression of vegetative long and short shoots

Abstract

Postflush observations on shoots of Betula papyrifera Marsh. indicated that long and short shoots differ in a range of morphological characteristics. Long shoots developed from distal axillary buds and short shoots developed from proximal axillary buds on the previous year's long shoots. Consequently, the potential of a bud to develop into a long shoot decreased basipetally. Potential long-shoot buds had higher bud-relative growth rates, stem-relative growth rates, leaf-relative growth rates, and stem dry weights during the course of postflush growth. Changes in leaf thickness, expressed in terms of specific leaf area and specific leaf weight, indicated that long shoots temporarily had thinner leaves than did short shoots a few weeks after flushing. Net assimilate requirements in long shoots for late leaf and internodal expansion may explain these observations. Nearing maturity, long-shoot early leaves became thicker, possibly owing to greater shoot vigour and (or) higher photosynthetic efficiency. Consequently, mature long-shoot early leaves possessed larger and thicker laminae, longer petioles, more side nerve pairs, and tended to grow more in length than width than short-shoot leaves on shoots of comparable age. Leaves of older short shoots, 2–10 years old, attained a greater size and had longer petioles than those of 1-year-old short shoots. Stem elongation and the development and expression of leaves in long shoots seemed to have a correlative influence on the overall vigour of long shoots.