Temperature rather than photoperiod controls growth cessation and dormancy in Sorbus species

Abstract

Environmental regulation of growth and dormancy of four Sorbus genotypes was studied in controlled environments. Emphasis was placed on assessment of the presence and nature of the deficient photoperiodic dormancy regulation system that has previously been reported for some woody Rosaceae species. Two genotypes of Sorbus aucuparia L. maintained indeterminate growth for 8 weeks and 9 weeks at temperatures of 15 °C and 21 °C in both 20 h and 10 h photoperiods, while at 9 °C, in the same photoperiodic conditions, they immediately ceased growing. At the higher temperatures, initiation of new leaves (nodes) was unaffected by photoperiod, while internode elongation was significantly enhanced by long days (LD). However, even after prolonged exposure to 9 °C, most plants resumed growth when moved to high temperature and LD, indicating a shallow state of dormancy. Seedlings of Sorbus intermedia (J. F. Ehrh.) Pers. and micro-propagated plantlets of S. commixta Hedl. 'Dodong' were also unaffected by photoperiod during primary growth, but failed to elongate and gradually became dormant regardless of temperature and day-length conditions. However, after chilling and breaking of dormancy, the plants elongated vigorously but changed to a determinate mode of growth. Furthermore, a temperature of 9 °C was found to be fully effective for breaking dormancy in S. intermedia plants. It is concluded that deficient photoperiodic dormancy control seems widespread in the Rosaceae and that, in such plants, both dormancy induction and release is brought about by low temperature. The potential impacts of climate change on such trees are discussed.

Fig. 1.

Time-courses of stem growth increments of Sorbus ‘Dodong’ (A) and ‘Sunshine’ plants (B) grown under different temperature and photoperiod regimes as indicated. Values are means of three replicates with five plants each. Note the different ordinate scale for the two cultivars.

Fig. 2.

Appearance of Sorbus ‘Sunshine’ plants after 6 weeks of cultivation under different temperature and photoperiod regimes. From left to right: 9, 15, and 21 °C; SD above and LD below. Photograph taken on 2 July 2009. (This figure is available in colour at JXB online.)

Fig. 3.

Time-courses of stem growth and leaf number increments of wild-type S. aucuparia (A, B) and S. intermedia (C, D) plants grown under different temperature and photoperiod regimes as indicated. Values are means of three replicates with five plants each. Note the different ordinate scales for the two species.

Fig. 4.

Time-courses of stem growth and leaf number increments of ‘second year’ S. intermedia plants grown under different temperature and photoperiod regimes as indicated. Values are means of three replicates with five plants each.

Fig. 5.

Time-courses of terminal shoot growth of S. aucuparia plants grown at 9 °C and 20 h photoperiod for 3, 6 or 9 weeks followed by transfer to 21 °C and continued LD conditions. The inserted percentage numbers denote the percentage of plants with an elongating terminal bud. Values are means ±SE of three replicates with five plants each.

Fig. 6.

Effects of increasing time of chilling at 9 °C on bud burst and growth performance of S. intermedia plants forced at 21 °C and 24 h photoperiod. From left to right, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of chilling at 9 °C. Note the corresponding decrease in time of exposure to forcing conditions in plants with increasing chilling time. (This figure is available in colour at JXB online.)