Effects of Water, Light, and Nutrition on Flower-Bud Initiation in Apricots

Abstract

Young apricot trees were grown under different levels of light, nutrition, and water. Both high nutrition and adequate water increased the production of nodes and their associated leaves but did not affect internode length. Flower·bud initiation at each node was increased by high nutrition but unaffected by water level. Light intensity did not affect the production of nodes and leaves but low light reduced flower· bud initiation at each node and promoted internode elongation. Flower·bud initiation probably depends on a supply of metabolites in excess of the requirements of shoots, fruits, and roots and this may be mediated by the hormone system of the plant.