Vol. 77 No: 4

Title:
Flower differentiation and spur leaf area in almond

Authors:
S. POLITO, K. PINNEY, R. HEEREMA and S.A. WEINBAUM

pp: 474-478

Abstract:
In mature almond trees, flowers are borne laterally and predominantly on spurs. The flower buds contain a single terminal flower and no leaves. We investigated variation in the timing of floral initiation and organogenesis among and within spurs on ´Nonparei1` almond (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D. A. Webb). Spurs were sampled twice during the late-summer period of flower initiation and differentiation. All lateral buds on individual spurs were dissected and the developmental status of the meristem was determined. Extensive variation in the progress of floral initiation and differentiation was evident among spurs. Spurs with high total leaf areas had more floral buds, and these buds underwent transition to flowering and floral organogenesis earlier than buds on spurs with lower total leaf areas. Within spurs, there was no gradient in floral development relative to bud position on the spur. The results indicate that spurs function independently with regard to floral development events, and suggest that within spurs buds may function somewhat independently as well.

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