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Applying paclobutrazol at dormancy induction inhibits shoot apical meristem activity during terminal bud development in Picea mariana seedlings

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Applying paclobutrazol at dormancy induction inhibited shoot apical meristem mitotic activity, thereby decreasing rate and duration of needle-primordium initiation and thus needle-primordium number in terminal buds of Picea mariana seedlings.

Abstract

The effect of applying various rates of paclobutrazol (an inhibitor of gibberellic acid biosynthesis) at dormancy induction on shoot apical meristem activity during terminal bud development in first-year Picea mariana Mill. (B.S.P.) seedlings was investigated. During needle-primordium initiation, mitotic activity was reduced in shoot apical meristems of treated seedlings compared with control seedlings. The reduction was most evident within the peripheral zone where primordia arose but also occurred within the apical zone, which provides cells to the peripheral zone. The reduced mitotic activity within the peripheral zone coincided with a decrease in both rate and duration of needle-primordium initiation on nascent embryonic shoots within terminal buds in treated seedlings compared with control seedlings. Moreover, meristems of treated seedlings were smaller, shorter, and narrower (determined by cell counts as another measure of mitotic activity) compared with control seedlings. Thus, these meristems had less available space for needle-primordium initiation. As a result, embryonic shoots in treated seedlings had fewer needle primordia compared with control seedlings. Furthermore, onset of bud endodormancy (delimited by an absence of mitotic activity within the shoot apical meristem after completion of needle-primordium initiation) was realized in treated seedlings before the last sampling date, whereas it was not realized in control seedlings by the last sampling date.

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Acknowledgements

The following individuals are thanked for their contributions: Neil Benson and staff at the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Mount Pearl Forest Tree Nursery in Mount Pearl for providing space and seedling culture; Michele Fullarton, Government of New Brunswick, Department of Natural Resources, Tree Improvement Branch for providing half-sib seed; S. Morgan for sampling and embedding shoot tip material and counting needles on elongated shoots; P. MacDonald for microscope slide production; S. Lambert for micrograph production; M. Montigny and G. Carew for counting shoot apical meristem cells and needle primordia on micrographs; A.M. Eastham for statistical analyses; S. MacDonald for support during manuscript preparation; Drs. T. Beardmore and A.S. Mosseler for their thoughtful comments during an internal review of the manuscript. The comments of two anonymous referees were most helpful in simplifying graphs and focusing the introduction and discussion on gibberellins during the revision process. The donation of paclobutrazol and detailed application instructions by Zeneca Agro are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service - Atlantic Forestry Centre, PO Box 4000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5P7, Canada

    Joanne E. MacDonald

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  1. Joanne E. MacDonald
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Correspondence to Joanne E. MacDonald.

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The author declares no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was funded by Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service.

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Communicated by R. Guy.

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MacDonald, J.E. Applying paclobutrazol at dormancy induction inhibits shoot apical meristem activity during terminal bud development in Picea mariana seedlings. Trees 31, 229–235 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-016-1475-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-016-1475-5

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