Leaf micro-environment influence the altered foliar phenotype of columnar apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) trees

TY - GEN

T1 - Leaf micro-environment influence the altered foliar phenotype of columnar apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) trees

AU - Talwara, Susheela

AU - Grout, Brian William Wilson

AU - Toldam-Andersen, Torben Bo

N1 - Conference code: 2

PY - 2015/9/25

Y1 - 2015/9/25

N2 - Columnar apple trees (CATs) have radically-altered architecture (significantly shorter internodes and lateral branches) when compared to standard apple trees, attributed to a mutation of the Co gene involved in apical dominance. These changes in architecture have been associated with changes in the phenotype of the leaves in the leaf clusters that subtend the fruits of CATs, compared to their standard counterparts. This initial investigation considers standard and columnar trees at different levels of genetic relatedness and records significant increases in leaf area, leaf mass per unit area, chlorophyll content and competitive shading in the fruiting leaf clusters of columnar cultivars. Additionally, significant increases in intercepted light have been shown to be associated with the columnar structure, and carbon fixation is also increased. We propose that leaf micro-environment of columnar cultivars is altered in terms of incident light by their open architecture and this influences the growth and development of the leaves in the fruiting leaf clusters. Interaction with their modified genetic condition produces a foliar phenotype characteristic of CATs.

AB - Columnar apple trees (CATs) have radically-altered architecture (significantly shorter internodes and lateral branches) when compared to standard apple trees, attributed to a mutation of the Co gene involved in apical dominance. These changes in architecture have been associated with changes in the phenotype of the leaves in the leaf clusters that subtend the fruits of CATs, compared to their standard counterparts. This initial investigation considers standard and columnar trees at different levels of genetic relatedness and records significant increases in leaf area, leaf mass per unit area, chlorophyll content and competitive shading in the fruiting leaf clusters of columnar cultivars. Additionally, significant increases in intercepted light have been shown to be associated with the columnar structure, and carbon fixation is also increased. We propose that leaf micro-environment of columnar cultivars is altered in terms of incident light by their open architecture and this influences the growth and development of the leaves in the fruiting leaf clusters. Interaction with their modified genetic condition produces a foliar phenotype characteristic of CATs.

KW - ???Frugtavl???

KW - carbon fixation

M3 - Conference article

SN - 0567-7572

VL - 1099

SP - 835

EP - 841

JO - Acta Horticulturae

JF - Acta Horticulturae

T2 - International Symposium on Horticulture in Europe

Y2 - 1 July 2012 through 5 July 2012

ER -