How plant allometry influences bud phenology and fruit yield in two Vaccinium species.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Understanding how plant allometry, plant architecture and phenology contribute to fruit production can identify those plant traits that maximize fruit yield. In this study, we compared these variables and fruit yield for two shrub species, Vaccinium angustifolium and Vaccinium myrtilloides, to test the hypothesis that phenology is linked to the plants' allometric traits, which are predictors of fruit production.

Methods

We measured leaf and flower phenology and the above-ground biomass of both Vaccinium species in a commercial wild lowbush blueberry field (Quebec, Canada) over a 2-year crop cycle; 1 year of pruning followed by 1 year of harvest. Leaf and flower phenology were measured, and the allometric traits of shoots and buds were monitored over the c

SUBMITTER: Fournier MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7750960 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature