Bud Break In Spring Research Articles

SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE 3 mediates hormonal signals control of bud dormancy in grape

Bud dormancy is an essential and complex physiological process in perennial plants. Abscisic acid (ABA) is the major hormone regulating bud dormancy, however, the gene, SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) also plays a pivotal role. The combined regulation of SVP and ABA in the endodormancy network remains poorly characterized. In the present study, we demonstrate the growth inhibitory functions of VvSVP3 by its overexpressing it in tobacco and poplar. VvSVP3-overexpressing poplar plants prematurely stopped growing under short day, exhibiting delayed bud break in early spring. VvSVP3 regulates ABA, the gibberellic acid (GA) pathway, and the callose synthesis to promote dormancy within its network. In addition, exogenous application of ABA positively affects VvSVP3 expression. A transcriptomics and proteomics combined approach identified that VvPYL9 is a target gene of VvSVP3, which directly binds to a CArG motif in the VvPYL9 promoter to activate its expression. In summary, our results revealed the feedback regulation between VvSVP3 gene, ABA metabolism, and the dormancy signaling pathway in grape. It also provides new insights into the functional role of callose and ABA regulation in dormancy.

Comprehensive analysis and expression profiles of the AP2/ERF gene family during spring bud break in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)

BackgroundAP2/ERF transcription factors (AP2/ERFs) are important regulators of plant physiological and biochemical metabolism. Evidence suggests that AP2/ERFs may be involved in the regulation of bud break in woody perennials. Green tea is economically vital in China, and its production value is significantly affected by the time of spring bud break of tea plant. However, the relationship between AP2/ERFs in tea plant and spring bud break remains largely unknown.ResultsA total of 178 AP2/ERF genes (CsAP2/ERFs) were identified in the genome of tea plant. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, these genes could be classified into five subfamilies. The analysis of gene duplication events demonstrated that whole genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication was the primary way of CsAP2/ERFs amplification. According to the result of the Ka/Ks value calculation, purification selection dominated the evolution of CsAP2/ERFs. Furthermore, gene composition and structure analyses of CsAP2/ERFs indicated that different subfamilies contained a variety of gene structures and conserved motifs, potentially resulting in functional differences among five subfamilies. The promoters of CsAP2/ERFs also contained various signal-sensing elements, such as abscisic acid responsive elements, light responsive elements and low temperature responsive elements. The evidence presented here offers a theoretical foundation for the diverse functions of CsAP2/ERFs. Additionally, the expressions of CsAP2/ERFs during spring bud break of tea plant were analyzed by RNA-seq and grouped into clusters A-F according to their expression patterns. The gene expression changes in clusters A and B were more synchronized with the spring bud break of tea plant. Moreover, several potential correlation genes, such as D-type cyclin genes, were screened out through weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Temperature and light treatment experiments individually identified nine candidate CsAP2/ERFs that may be related to the spring bud break of tea plant.ConclusionsThis study provides new evidence for role of the CsAP2/ERFs in the spring bud break of tea plant, establishes a theoretical foundation for analyzing the molecular mechanism of the spring bud break of tea plant, and contributes to the improvement of tea cultivars.

Higher spring phenological sensitivity to forcing temperatures of Asian compared to European tree species under low and high pre-chilling conditions

Winter chilling, spring forcing temperature and photoperiod are the most important drivers explaining the spatial and temporal variability of spring phenology in temperate trees. However, how these factors interact with each other on dormancy release and spring budburst date remains unclear and varies greatly depending on species. Our knowledge is also limited as to whether heat accumulation of forcing temperatures that trigger bud break in spring is a linear or non-linear process. Here, we aimed at experimentally quantifying the effect of chilling, forcing, photoperiod and their interactions on the budburst dates of nine different temperate tree species from East Asia (near Beijing, China) and Central Europe (near Zurich, Switzerland), including six phylogenetically related species (same genus). We conducted a full factorial experiment in climate chambers using two chilling (low and high, i.e., 0 vs. 56 days at 2°C after sampling at the end of December), four forcing (5, 10, 15, and 20°C), and two photoperiod (8 vs. 16 h) treatments simultaneously in Beijing and Zurich. We found that species growing near Beijing responded more readily to forcing conditions than species of the same genus growing near Zurich regardless of chilling treatment. Budburst timing of most species but European beech was marginally, if at all, affected by photoperiod. Furthermore, our results suggest that linear heat accumulation, as commonly used with the growing degree hours (GDH) model, could result in accurate prediction of budburst date depending on the temperature threshold used as a basis for heat accumulation. Our results also demonstrate the important role of chilling in shaping the sensitivity and rate of forcing accumulation to trigger budburst and suggest that species-specific sigmoid relationship for accumulating heat that accounts for prior chilling exposure may yield better predictions of budburst dates. Our results suggest that deciduous trees may have adapted their chilling and forcing requirements in regards to the predictability of winter-spring transition and late spring frosts. A less predictable winter-spring transition, as observed in Central Europe, could have driven species evolution towards higher chilling and forcing requirements compared to species growing in a more predictable climate of Northeastern Asia. Our cross-continental experiment therefore suggests that the spring phenology of East Asian species is tighter coupled to spring forcing temperature than Central European forests.

Epigenetics for crop adaptation to climate change

Epigenetics for crop adaptation to climate change

H3K4me3 plays a key role in establishing permissive chromatin states during bud dormancy and bud break in apple.

Bud dormancy helps woody perennials survive winter and activate robust plant development in the spring. For apple (Malus × domestica), short-term chilling induces bud dormancy in autumn, then prolonged chilling leads to dormancy release and a shift to a quiescent state in winter, with subsequent warm periods promoting bud break in spring. Epigenetic regulation contributes to seasonal responses such as vernalization. However, how histone modifications integrate seasonal cues and internal signals during bud dormancy in woody perennials remains largely unknown. Here, we show that H3K4me3 plays a key role in establishing permissive chromatin states during bud dormancy and bud break in apple. The global changes in gene expression strongly correlated with changes in H3K4me3, but not H3K27me3. High expression of DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-box (DAM) genes, key regulators of dormancy, in autumn was associated with high H3K4me3 levels. In addition, known DAM/SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) target genes significantly overlapped with H3K4me3-modified genes as bud dormancy progressed. These data suggest that H3K4me3 contributes to the central dormancy circuit, consisting of DAM/SVP and abscisic acid (ABA), in autumn. In winter, the lower expression and H3K4me3 levels at DAMs and gibberellin metabolism genes control chilling-induced release of dormancy. Warming conditions in spring facilitate the expression of genes related to phytohormones, the cell cycle, and cell wall modification by increasing H3K4me3 toward bud break. Our study also revealed that activation of auxin and repression of ABA sensitivity in spring are conditioned at least partly through temperature-mediated epigenetic regulation in winter.

The MADS-Box Gene MdDAM1 Controls Growth Cessation and Bud Dormancy in Apple

Apple trees require a long exposure to chilling temperature during winter to acquire competency to flower and grow in the following spring. Climate change or adverse meteorological conditions can impair release of dormancy and delay bud break, hence jeopardizing fruit production and causing substantial economic losses. In order to characterize the molecular mechanisms controlling bud dormancy in apple we focused our work on the MADS-box transcription factor gene MdDAM1. We show that MdDAM1 silencing is required for the release of dormancy and bud break in spring. MdDAM1 transcript levels are drastically reduced in the low-chill varieties ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorsett Golden’ compared to ‘Golden Delicious’ corroborating its role as a key genetic factor controlling the release of bud dormancy in Malus species. The functional characterization of MdDAM1 using RNA silencing resulted in trees unable to cease growth in winter and that displayed an evergrowing, or evergreen, phenotype several years after transgenesis. These trees lost their capacity to enter in dormancy and produced leaves and shoots regardless of the season. A transcriptome study revealed that apple evergrowing lines are a genocopy of ‘Golden Delicious’ trees at the onset of the bud break with the significant gene repression of the related MADS-box gene MdDAM4 as a major feature. We provide the first functional evidence that MADS-box transcriptional factors are key regulators of bud dormancy in pome fruit trees and demonstrate that their silencing results in a defect of growth cessation in autumn. Our findings will help producing low-chill apple variants from the elite commercial cultivars that will withstand climate change.

Morphology and phenology in Picea abies seedlings in response to split short day treatments

Short-day (SD) treatment is used by forest nurseries to induce growth cessation in Picea abies seedlings. SD treatment may however increase the risk of reflushing in autumn and earlier bud break the following spring. We tested how different starting dates and durations of SD treatment influenced on morphological and phenological traits. Regardless of timing and duration of the SD treatment, height growth was reduced compared to the untreated controls. Seedlings given split SD (7+7 days interrupted with two weeks in long days) had less height growth than all other treatments. Root collar diameter growth was significantly less in control seedlings than in seedlings exposed to early (7 or 14 days) or split (7+7 days) SD treatment. There were also differences in the frequency of reflushing and bud break timing among the SD treated seedlings, dependent on duration and starting date. If the SD treatment started early, a continuous 14-day SD treatment was not sufficient to avoid high frequencies of reflushing. However, by splitting the SD treatment into two periods of 7+7 days these negative effects were largely avoided, although spring bud break occurred earlier than in the controls.

Trans-Graft Protection Against Pierce's Disease Mediated by Transgenic Grapevine Rootstocks.

A field study showed that transgenic grapevine rootstocks can provide trans-graft-mediated protection to a wild type scion against Pierce’s disease (PD) development. We individually field-tested two distinct strategies. The first expressed a chimeric antimicrobial protein (CAP) that targeted the functionality of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) surface of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), the causative agent of PD. The second expressed a plant polygalacturonase inhibitory protein (PGIP) that prevents PD by inhibiting breakdown of pectin present in primary cell walls. Both proteins are secreted to the apoplast and then into the xylem, where they migrate past the graft union, transiting into the xylem of the grafted scion. Transgenic Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson Seedless (TS) expressing ether CAP or PGIP were tested in the greenhouse and those lines that showed resistance to PD were grafted with wild type TS scions. Grafted grapevines were introduced into the field and tested over 7 years. Here we present data on the field evaluation of trans-graft protection using four CAP and four PGIP independent rootstock lines, compared to an untransformed rootstock. There was 30 to 95% reduction in vine mortality among CAP- and PGIP-expressing lines after three successive yearly infections with virulent Xf. Shoot tissues grafted to either CAP or PGIP transgenic rootstocks supported lower pathogen titers and showed fewer disease symptoms. Grafted plants on transgenic rootstocks also had more spring bud break following infection, more shoots, and more vigorous growth compared to those grafted to wild type rootstocks. No yield penalty was observed in the transgenic lines and some PGIP-expressing vines had enhanced yield potential. Trans-graft protection is an efficient way to protect grape scions against PD while preserving their valuable varietal genotypes and clonal properties.

Histone modification and activation by SOC1-like and drought stress-related transcription factors may regulate AcSVP2 expression during kiwifruit winter dormancy

The SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP)-like and DORMANCY ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM) genes have been shown to regulate winter dormancy in woody perennials. In kiwifruit, AcSVP2 affects the duration of dormancy in cultivars that require high chill for dormancy release. In this study, we used a low-chill kiwifruit Actinidia chinensis ‘Hort16A’ to further study the function and regulation of AcSVP2. Overexpression of AcSVP2 in transgenic A. chinensis delayed budbreak in spring. A reduction in the active trimethylation histone marks of the histone H3K4 and acetylation of histone H3 contributed to the reduction of AcSVP2 expression towards dormancy release, while the inactive histone marks of trimethylation of the histone H3K27 and H3K9 in AcSVP2 locus did not show significant enrichment at the end of winter dormancy. Analysis of expression in shoot buds showed that AcSVP2 transcript was elevated in dormant buds during winter months and declined prior to budbreak, which was coordinated with expression of some of kiwifruit SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1)-like genes. Screening of 101 transcription factors in an assay with a 2.3 kb promoter region of AcSVP2 found that kiwifruit SOC1-like genes are able to activate the AcSVP2 promoter. We further identified additional transcription factors associated with drought/osmotic stress and dormancy which may regulate AcSVP2 expression.

Kiwifruit reserves: balancing vine growth and fruit productivity

Storage of large amounts of carbohydrate in the fruit, roots and wood during summer and autumn is vital to produce both high-quality kiwifruit and also to support vine development in the following season. Our study showed that new shoot growth of 'Hayward' vines occurs during the first 100 days after budbreak (DAB) in spring. During this period, vine reserves became depleted, with total carbohydrate concentrations in both roots and wood decreasing by 3-fold and root death occurring in late spring. Although shoots became autotrophic by 30-40 DAB, the concentrations of reserves continued to decline until the end of shoot growth, indicating that insufficient carbohydrate was available from photosynthesis to support the growth and metabolism of the rest of the vine before the end of shoot growth. Once the canopy was established and fruit set had occurred, photosynthate supply was shared between storage in roots and wood, current season's cane and root growth, as well as in fruit development over the remainder of the season. If the supply of carbohydrate was altered or the balance changed during this period, fruit quality, as well as flower production and shoot growth in the following season, was affected. Hence, it is essential to balance vine growth, fruit development and reserve storage to achieve consistent yields of high-quality kiwifruit.

Climatic effects on bud break and frost tolerance in the northernmost populations of Beech (Fagus sylvatica) in Europe

Bud break in European beech is generally known to be under strong photoperiodic control, but our data indicate that bud break in the northernmost populations is temperature limited. European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is among the dominant tree species in Europe, and is expected to increase its distribution northwards due to climate change. Although spring bud break in European beech is known to be under strong photoperiodic control, studies of populations from high elevations suggest a greater role of temperature in colder environments. This indicates that warming could yield advanced bud break for populations at high elevation and at high latitudes. Using live material collected in winter, spring and autumn from wild populations in Norway, representing the northernmost distribution range of European beech, we tested frost tolerance and effects of temperature and day length on bud break in controlled conditions. Furthermore, we observed bud break during spring in field conditions. Bud break in controlled conditions was faster with later sampling dates and higher temperatures, but showed little or no activity under short photoperiod. Field observations revealed earlier bud break in warmer sites, and remarkably, that bud break dates have advanced by more than 10 days in less than three decades. Frost tolerance tests showed a gradual decrease in bud intactness from January to March, and a gradual increase from October to December. Our data indicate that bud break dates in the northernmost European beech populations are limited by temperature, similar to observations of populations at high elevation in Central Europe. Further warming can thus be expected to yield earlier bud break at the species’ northernmost distribution range, possibly increasing the susceptibility of shoot tips to late spring frost events.

Interannual variation in UV-B and temperature effects on bud phenology and growth in Populus tremula

Warming affects phenological processes such as spring bud break and autumnal bud set, and also growth rates of trees. Recently, it has been shown that these physiological processes also may be influenced by the ultraviolet-B (UV-B) part of the solar spectrum, and there are reasons to expect that the two environmental factors induce interactive effects when acting in concert. In this study, our aim was to elucidate how experimental enhancements in temperature and UV-B, alone and in combination, affect growth and seasonal phenology of Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula) over several growing seasons (three years). Moreover, we tested how environmentally induced changes in phenology affect the growth achieved over each season, that is, the importance of a prolonged growing season for growth yield. The plants grew in an outdoor experiment with modulated enhancements of temperature and UV-B during the growing season. Both UV-B and temperature enhancement affected bud set dates, while bud break dates were only affected by temperature enhancement. Temperature delayed bud set in all years, but gradually less over years, while UV-B yielded earlier bud set the first year but showed a delayed response the following years. Bud break was always earlier under temperature enhancement. The experimentally induced extension of the growing season in both ends had a positive effect of growth throughout the three-year period. However, the reduced responsiveness of bud set to both enhancement treatments suggest that the plants gradually acclimated to the modified climate, a finding that should also be investigated for other tree species.

Overexpression of both AcSVP1 and AcSVP4 delays budbreak in kiwifruit A. chinensis var. deliciosa, but only AcSVP1 delays flowering in model plants

Kiwifruit SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (AcSVP) genes have been implicated in regulation of dormancy and flowering. Previously, we have shown that AcSVP2 and AcSVP3 have different effects on dormancy and flowering in transgenic kiwifruit and model plants. The role of two homologous genes, AcSVP1 and AcSVP4, remained unclear. Here, AcSVP1 and AcSVP4 were functionally characterized by ectopic expression in Actinidia species which show different chilling requirements for budbreak, as well as the model plant tobacco. Overexpression of AcSVP1 and AcSVP4 delayed spring budbreak in a high-chill A. chinensis var. deliciosa, but did not affect budbreak and flowering in a low-chill A. eriantha. Overexpression of AcSVP1 delayed flowering and seed germination in tobacco, while overexpression of AcSVP4 had only minor effects. Analysis of cis-regulatory motifs in the promoter regions of AcSVP1 and AcSVP4 and promoter transactivation assays revealed that AcSVP1 and AcSVP4 may be controlled by similar transcription factors, suggesting a conserved regulatory mechanism and a synergistic role for AcSVP1 and AcSVP4 in preventing premature kiwifruit budbreak during winter.

Survival, early growth and impact of damage by late-spring frost and winter desiccation on Douglas-fir seedlings in southern Sweden

Introduction of non-native species, such as Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), can be a means of mitigating the effects of climate change by meeting the growing demand for biomass and high quality wood. The aim of this study was to investigate early growth, survival and damage from late-spring frost and winter desiccation. A provenance trial with four coastal and three interior provenances of Douglas-fir originating from British Columbia, Canada, was established in Southwest Sweden (56°43′N, 13°08′E). Seedling height, length of the leading shoot, and occurrence of frost damage, were measured after one, three, and six growing seasons. Timing of bud break in spring was also observed. The interior Douglas-fir were more frequently damaged by late-spring frost compared to the coastal Douglas-fir. The interior Douglas-fir still had a higher survival after six growing seasons compared to the coastal variety. All provenances were damaged by winter desiccation, but the provenances originating from the coastal area were more severely damaged. Choice of variety may reduce the risk for either late-spring frost or winter desiccation.

Role of Bark Color on Stem Temperature and Carbohydrate Management during Dormancy Break in Persian Walnut

Temperature is assumed to be the principal regulatory signal that determines the end of dormancy and resumption of growth. Indirect evidence that stem temperature interferes with phenology comes from the common orchard practice of painting stems to protect them from disease. This work studies the effects of application of white paint to the stems of persian walnut (Juglans regia) trees on winter stem temperature, carbohydrate content, and spring phenology. Painting bark resulted in the delay of budbreak by several days, higher nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in the bark and wood of painted extension shoots and changes in the spatial gradients of NSC during budbreak. The demands of maintenance respiration exceeded mobilization from local carbon pools during bud development suggesting a potential role of carbohydrate transport during spring budbreak in persian walnut. Painting provides an exciting perspective for mitigating effects of milder winter in orchards. The effect of reducing diurnal and spatial temperature variability limits early budbreak, NSC depletion associated with intense maintenance respiration, freeze–thaw cycles and frost dehardening.

Tree-killing aphid dramatically reduces bark contents in carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds

Abstract Aphids can affect the growth or architecture of their host-trees, but rarely challenge their survival. Nonetheless, the woolly poplar aphid, Phloeomyzus passerinii, can kill healthy, mature poplars during outbreaks. Trees fail to open their buds and flush their leaves in the spring following a severe infestation. This insect develops on poplar trunks, where it induces galls which accumulate amino acids and deplete starch content in the bark tissues. Here, we hypothesized that an infestation may then reduce non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and non-structural nitrogen compounds (NSNC) contents in the bark, and that the reduction would be positively correlated with the infestation duration. This would in turn compromise the spring reactivation of trees. Consequently we also hypothesized that the bark contents of NSC and NSNC could be positively correlated with the amount of branches exhibiting bud break in spring, and the subsequent radial growth. The bark contents of NSC and NSNC were quantified in autumn for poplars exhibiting different levels of infestation and located in two distant stands. In one stand, NSC and NSNC contents in the bark were also quantified in the following spring and the damage level in the crowns were evaluated. In both stands, the infestation dramatically reduced the NSC and NSNC contents in autumn, especially starch and protein contents. While the drop in protein content was not related to infestation duration, the starch content gradually decreased when infestation duration increased. The infestation effect on starch content was still detectible in spring, after reserves had likely been mobilized for the spring reactivation. Starch content in autumn and spring was strongly positively correlated with crown health and radial increment. These results suggest that poplars infested by P. passerinii may die from carbon reserves deficiency, which would be an unprecedented situation for tree-aphid and tree-gall inducing insects interactions. Further experiments monitoring seasonal dynamics of NSC and NSNC reserves in different organs of infested trees should be conducted to validate this hypothesis. The results also suggest that the starch content in the bark of infested trees, in autumn, might be used as a predictor of tree decay by managers.

Short-day photoperiods affect expression of genes related to dormancy and freezing tolerance in Norway spruce seedlings

Key MessageGene expression analysis showed that prolonged short day (SD) treatment deepened dormancy and stimulated development of freezing tolerance ofPicea abiesseedlings. Prolonged SD treatment also caused later appearance of visible buds in autumn, reduced risks for reflushing, and promoted earlier spring bud break. ContextShort day (SD) treatment of seedlings is a common practice in boreal forest tree nurseries to regulate shoot growth and prepare the seedlings for autumn planting or frozen storage. AimsThe aim of this study was to examine responses of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) to a range of SD treatments of different length and evaluate gene expression related to dormancy induction and development of freezing tolerance. MethodsThe seedlings were SD treated for 11 h a day during 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Molecular tests were performed, and the expression profiles of dormancy and freezing tolerance-related genes were analyzed as well as determination of shoot growth, bud set, bud size, reflushing, dry matter content, and timing of spring bud break. ResultsThe 7-day SD treatment was as effective as longer SD treatments in terminating apical shoot growth. However, short (7 days) SD treatment resulted in later activation of dormancy-related genes and of genes related to freezing tolerance compared to the longer treatments which had an impact on seedling phenology. ConclusionGene expression analysis indicated an effective stimulus of dormancy-related genes when the SD treatment is prolonged for at least 1–2 weeks after shoot elongation has terminated and that seedlings thereafter are exposed to ambient outdoor climate conditions.

Next Generation Sequencing to characterise the breaking of bud dormancy using a natural biostimulant in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

Dormancy occurs in many woody perennials and fruit trees, and is characterised mainly by the temporal absence of growth. This strategy has an ecological role in ensuring plant survival under non-permissive growing conditions. In kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa), buds must be exposed to a certain amount of chilling to complete dormancy and achieve optimal bud break and flowering in spring. However, in warmer geographical areas bud break can be limited by insufficient winter chilling, leading to less and uneven flowering and lower productivity. Several bud break-enhancing compounds have been shown to be effective in kiwifruit, overcoming the negative effects of poor winter chilling. However, their mode of action is still largely unknown. In this work, using a molecular approach based on Next Generation Sequencing, we characterised dormancy and its breaking after the application of the biostimulant Erger®. Samples were collected at different time-points and in distinct geographical areas, namely Italy and New Zealand. Our results indicated that the effect of Erger® depends on the moment of application. Furthermore, molecular mechanisms that characterise a biostimulant treatment for bud break, irrespective of the region and seasonality, were identified. This characterisation opens new perspectives to improve bud break-enhancing compound formulations and identify their best moment of application.

Overwintering form of Erysiphe necator, the causal agent of grapevine powdery mildew in southern Syria

AbstractThe main aims of this study were to determine the overwintering form and the primary inoculum ofErysiphe necator,the causal agent of grapevine powdery mildew in southern Syria. Eleven vineyards located at five different geographical sites were visited every week from March to November in 2014 and 2015. The results of field and histopathological studies showed thatE. necatorsurvived as mycelium in dormant grapevine buds during the winter season. The first flag shoots were observed shortly after bud break in spring. The number of flag shoots varied greatly according to vineyards, cultivars and years, being present on 27.4 to 61.9% of the grapevines in 2014, and on 5.2 to 40% of the grapevines in 2015. The percentage of flag shoots on the same grapevine also varied according to the year, cultivar and location. It was between 4.3 to 9.4% in 2014, and 2.1 to 3.6% in 2015. The disease was observed only on Balady and Black cultivars. Conidia were released from the second week of May to early September. The first conidia were trapped around mid-May, and the first secondary symptoms were observed on leaves from mid-May to early June according to the site. Chasmothecia were observed on leaves in 45.5% of the studied vineyards. The first observation of chasmothecia on leaves was in July, and their numbers varied greatly between vineyards and years. Chasmothecia were not detected on bark, nor were ascospores trapped at the beginning of the season. These results confirmed that the ascospores did not have any role in the initiation of spring infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the overwintering form ofE. necatorin Syria.

Combined effects of short-day treatment and fall fertilization on growth, nutrient status, and spring bud break of Pinus tabulaeformis seedlings

Abstract: Although effects of short-day treatment and fall fertilization on seedling development have been studied independently, their combined influences are not well elucidated. We explored growth, nutrient concentration, and spring bud break of Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) seedlings exposed to two photoperiod treatments (short-day consisting of 3 weeks of 18-hr nights in late summer and ambient day length) and three rates of fall N fertilization (0, 12 and 24 mg N per seedling). Seedlings were assessed before fall fertilization and at the end of the growing season. Bud break timing was evaluated the following spring. Increased foliar P concentration concurrent with reduced root P and K concentration occurred in short-day treated seedlings at the conclusion of photoperiod treatment. By the end of the growing season, short-day treatment resulted in greater N and P concentration in the stems, and P concentration in the foliage. It also induced smaller foliage and stem dry mass in both stages. Fall fertilization consistently enhanced tissue N concentration, but interaction effects with short-day treatment were generally non-significant. Short-day treatment curtailed shoot growth, induced terminal bud set, and hastened spring bud break (by only one day) for this mid-latitude seed source (41° N). Thus, short-day treatment or fall fertilization each promoted an increased nutrient concentration, while having only a minor effect on spring bud break.