A comparison of seed-propagated and micropropagated Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon): Yield and yield components in relation to crown architecture characteristics

Abstract

Remphrey, W. R. and Pearn, L. P. 2006. A comparison of seed-propagated and micropropagated Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon): Yield and yield components in relation to crown architecture characteristics. Can. J. Plant Sci. 86: [499][500][501][502][503][504][505][506][507][508][509][510]. A study of the architecture and yield components of young micropropagated and seed-propagated Smoky saskatoons over a 4-yr period revealed no differences in height, but the diameters and branchiness ratings of the seedling plants were greater. In the 3 yr of fruit harvest there were no differences in mean fruit weight or fruit number between propagation types, but there was a difference among years. The yield was considerably greater in the third year of harvest (1996), possibly reflecting the natural tendency for yield to increase as the plants develop. In all 3 yr, fruit ripening peaked in July, with most fruit harvested within about a week on either side of the peak. Although there were strong correlations between the number of infructescences and both fruit weight and fruit number, there was little difference between propagation types. There were no relationships between main-stem diameter and the weight or number of fruit that the plant bore. However, there was a positive linear relationship between yield parameters and the diameter of the shoots bearing that portion of the crop in 1994 and 1995. Although not different between propagation types, terminal shoots were longer and greater in diameter and in 1995 bore three times more fruit yield than did lateral shoots. There were no differences between propagation types in the weight of fruit per infructescence or in the mean weight (0.71 ± 0.02 g) or diameter (10.81 ± 0.11 mm) per fruit. 499-510. L'étude des paramètres du rendement et de la structure du collet de jeunes plants d'amélanchier Smoky obtenus par multiplication végétative in vitro et par la culture des semences durant une période de quatre ans n'a révélé aucune différence pour ce qui est de la hauteur, mais le diamètre et les ramifications étaient plus importants chez les plants issus des graines. Au cours des trois années de récolte, les auteurs n'ont noté aucun écart dans le poids ou le nombre moyen des fruits pour les deux types de plants, cependant il existait une variation annuelle. Le rendement a été considérablement plus élevé la troisième année de récolte (1996), peut-être à cause de la tendance naturelle qu'a le rendement d'augmenter à mesure que les plants prennent de l'âge. Les trois années, la maturation des fruits a atteint son maximum en juillet et la majorité des fruits ont été cueillis durant la semaine qui a précédé ou suivi ce pic. Bien qu'il existe d'étroites corrélations entre le nombre d'inflorescences et le poids des fruits ainsi que le nombre de fruits, le mode de multiplication n'entraîne pas de grandes fluctuations à ce niveau. Le diamètre de la tige principale ne présente aucun lien avec le poids ni le nombre des fruits récoltés. Toutefois, les auteurs ont observé une relation linéaire po...

Effect of Branch-inducing Treatments on Growth of Tissue Culture and Cutting-Propagated Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’

“…Furthermore, the H:W ratio data indicated that TC plants were only slightly wider with only a 12% ( 2008) and 18% (2010) difference from 1 compared with CUT plants that were considerably wider than tall with a 33% (2008) and 25% (2010) difference from 1. This growth response was similar to Remphrey and Pearn (2006) who reported micropropagated Saskatoon serviceberry [Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt.…”

Light Source and Cytokinin Type Affect Multiplication Rate, Chlorophyll Content and Stomata Formation of Amelanchier alnifolia Shoots in Vitro

“…Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt. (Saskatoon berry) is a fruit-bearing shrub, native to the Prairie Provinces of Canada, that is becoming increasingly important as a commercial fruit crop (Remphrey et al, 2006). In Europe, Saskatoon Berry is still little known and not widespread in cultivation, but it seems that there is a large potential for the development of Saskatoon Berry as a new crop for dessert fruit and processing.…”