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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #63885
Title: BUD DORMANCY IN PERRENIAL FRUIT TREES: PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DORMANCY INDUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND RELEASE

Author
item FAUST, MIKLOS - RETIRED, USDA
item EREZ, AMNON - VOLCANI CENTER, ISRAEL
item Rowland, Lisa
item Wang, Shiow
item Norman, Helen

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary required.

Technical Abstract: The paper reviews the various theories on dormancy of fruit trees. It discusses in detail the hormonal theories and the reasons why the traditional hormonal control of bud dormancy appears to be failed. Even though the total hormonal control is feasible there are many signs that hormones have an influence on dormancy. The authors searched for reasons why hormonal control can not be expressed and came to the conclusion that other influences do not allow the hormonal control to operate. They identified two major effects that override the hormonal control. They are the development of dehydrin proteins that bind the cell water and slow metabolic processes and the other is the membrane structures that need to undergo unsaturation to allow metabolic communication between the cells of the bud and the surrounding tissue. Depending where the buds are in the continuum of dormancy that continually changes from fall to spring, the possibility to manipulate dormancy changes. Dormancy can be avoided late fall and can be shortened during early spring. The methods by which this can be accomplished are listed in the paper. In addition, a general theory is advanced about bud dormancy that takes into account the present day biochemical knowledge of bud dormancy.