Open Collections

Growth and flowering of cranberry in relation to photoperiod and growth regulators

University of British Columbia

The relation of photoperiod and growth regulators to growth and the induction of flowering in cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. was studied. The various artificial day-lengths employed were provided in growth chambers or photoperiod cabinets in the greenhouse. Succinic acid 2,2-diraethylhydrazide (SADH) was applied both in the greenhouse and on a commercial bog. SADH was the primary growth regulator employed but others, namely gibberellic acid, cycocel, ancymidol and 6-benzylaminopurine were tested briefly. Paraffin sections of cranberry growing tips and terminal buds were employed to study flower initiation. Vegetative growth was found to be directly responsive to changes in daylength but no photoperiodic treatment was found that produced substantial initiation of floral parts. The flower initials that were found, occurred only under short day treatments of 9 or 12 hr. Probably they were artefacts of the alteration of some other physiological system and not direct results of photoperiod control. The normal timing of induction of flowering in British Columbia is similar to other areas where induction has been reported to occur during full bloom. SADH applied during full bloom on the bog increased flower induction. While SADH caused some retardation of growth, no important limitations of growth were found.

Text

2010-02-11

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/20089

Plant Science

University of British Columbia

Graduate