Effects of autumn on the induction of dormancy in apple and peach seedlings and their subsequent regrowth in spring

Abstract

Apple and peach seedlings were grown for 8 weeks under various regimes: two photoperiods (16 and 8 hr), two air temperatures (12.8° and 18.3°C) and three root temperatures (12.8°, 18.3° and 23.9°C). After the leaves were removed the seedlings were chilled in the dark at 5.6° for three periods (apples 750, 1500 and 2500 hr; peaches 750, 1500 and 2000 hr) and then grown in a glasshouse for 7 weeks during which bud break and extension growth were measured.

Growth of apple seedlings (cv. Granny Smith) stopped in an air temperature of 12.8¦ irrespective of photoperiod and root temperature. At 18.3° growth continued, but was retarded by short days and a root temperature of 12.8°. Peach seedlings (cv. Elberta) did not grow after any of the treatments. Extension growth and bud break in both species increased with increased hours of chilling.

Pre-dormancy factors had no effect on bud break in apples, but low air temperature and short days prior to chilling increased bud break in peaches, although the effects decreased as chilling increased. Low pre-dormancy air temperature increased the growth of both species after chilling. Photoperiod produced opposite effects in the two species. Thus short days increased the growth of peaches while long days were effective with apples. Apples grew best at a root temperature of 12.8°, and peaches grew better at this temperature than at 18.3° but not as well as at 23.9°.