Temperature and Photoperiod Influence Postharvest Needle Abscission of Selected Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea L. (Mill.)) Genotypes by Modulating ABA Levels

Thiagarajan, Arumugam; Lada, Rajasekaran R.; Pépin, Steeve; Forney, Charles F.; Desjardins, Yves; Dorais, Martine

doi:10.1007/s00344-013-9349-1

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Balsam fir trees accumulate ABA in autumn months which coincides with superior needle retention Thiagarajan et al, 2013). Further, exposure to low temperatures induced ABA while simultaneously delaying postharvest needle abscission in water uptake rate in balsam fir.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Means in each treatment combination were calculated from 40 branches. Bars with different letters were determined to be significantly different at the 5% significance level using Fisher's least significant differences comparison balsam fir (Thiagarajan et al, 2013). A separate study confirmed a strong positive correlation between ABA and postharvest needle retention (MacDonald & Lada, 2015, unpublished results).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Xylem-fed maple sap accelerates balsam fir needle abscission and but can delay water loss in spring and autumn

et al. 2016

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Postharvest balsam fir trees are known to suffer a number of problems that may be linked to abscission rates, such as dehydration or wounding. By definition, postharvest balsam fir trees are also detached from roots and will no longer be supplied certain root derived factors normally translocated via the xylem. Resupplying those root derived factors may delay abscission. The objective of this experiment was to take sap from a root intact species (i.e. Acer saccharum L) and add it to the water supply of balsam fir branches. Further, the effect of reverse osmosis and autoclaving the sap supply will be explored. The experiment was conducted once in spring and again in autumn to examine seasonal changes in needle abscission. The only hormones found in the maple sap were ABA and its metabolites, with PA (163.0 ng g -1 ) being the primary metabolite present. Needle retention was higher in branches harvested in autumn, as long as they were provided a sap that did not undergo RO. If the sap had undergone RO, then needle retention was slightly decreased in autumn. Needle retention generally decreased as the concentration of maple sap in the water supply increased and this trend was accelerated if the sap had undergone RO. Autoclaving the sap successfully delayed the length of time for water consumption to decrease, but this unexpectedly did not translate into improved needle retention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Xylem-fed maple sap accelerates balsam fir needle abscission and but can delay water loss in spring and autumn

et al. 2016

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“…Cold acclimation is an adaptive process where plants acquire the ability to withstand cold temperatures through exposure to mild temperatures occurring during autumn ( Gusta et al, 2005 ). A host of physiological changes are invoked in conifers by cold acclimation, including changes to lipid structure and composition ( Senser, 1982 ), antioxidant molecules and enzymes ( Tao et al, 1998 ), carbohydrates ( Mitcham-Butler et al, 1987 ; MacDonald et al, 2014b ), and abscisic acid (ABA; Thiagarajan et al, 2012 , 2013 ). Balsam fir have been evaluated for several of these changes typically indicative of cold acclimation and were found to accumulate ABA, raffinose, and galactose in autumn months suggesting that balsam fir do undergo cold acclimation ( Thiagarajan et al, 2013 ; MacDonald et al, 2014b ).…”

Section: Environmental Factors Linked With Postharvest Abscissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Physiology of Postharvest Needle Abscission in Balsam Fir

Lada

MacDonald

2015

Front. Plant Sci.

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Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) trees are commonly used as a specialty horticultural species for Christmas trees and associated greenery in eastern Canada and United States. Postharvest needle abscission has always been a problem, but is becoming an even bigger challenge in recent years presumably due to increased autumn temperatures and earlier harvesting practices. An increased understanding of postharvest abscission physiology in balsam fir may benefit the Christmas tree industry while simultaneously advancing our knowledge in senescence and abscission of conifers in general. Our paper describes the dynamics of needle abscission in balsam fir while identifying key factors that modify abscission patterns. Concepts such as genotypic abscission resistance, nutrition, environmental factors, and postharvest changes in water conductance and hormone evolution are discussed as they relate to our understanding of the balsam fir abscission physiology. Our paper ultimately proposes a pathway for needle abscission via ethylene and also suggests other potential alternative pathways based on our current understanding.

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“…One factor affecting needle abscission characteristics is genotype, where postharvest needle abscission has been shown to vary from 6 to 60 days even during dehydration between different genotypes . Environmental conditions in autumn, such a decreasing temperature and photoperiod, typically increase needle retention (Thiagarajan et al, 2013;. However, increases in hormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA) or ethylene, typically decreases needle retention (Thiagarajan et al, 2013;MacDonald, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Environmental conditions in autumn, such a decreasing temperature and photoperiod, typically increase needle retention (Thiagarajan et al, 2013;. However, increases in hormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA) or ethylene, typically decreases needle retention (Thiagarajan et al, 2013;MacDonald, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modifying stomatal conductance delays dehydration but not postharvest needle abscission in Abies balsamea

McCavour¹,

MacDonald²,

Lada³

2019

Dendrobiology

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Postharvest needle abscission poses a significant challenge to the balsam fir (Abies balsamea L.) Christmas tree industry. Root detachment, and other postharvest handling and transporting factors, lead to a progressive dehydration leading to postharvest needle loss. If this were so, reducing the transpiratory water loss through regulating stomata would be expected to reduce dehydration extending needle retention. This study explored this hypothesis through manipulation of balsam fir stomata using chemical treatments to determine the effect on water uptake, relative water content, and needle abscission. Branches were collected from 70 trees and immediately applied a postharvest treatment of water (control), ABA, fluoridone, BAP, theophylline, potassium nitrate, or dopamine. Stomatal conductance decreased by 27% after application of ABA and increased by 24%, 17%, and 18% by fluoridone, BA, and potassium nitrate, respectively. Consequently, the ABA treatment resulted in a significantly lower water uptake while fluoridone, BAP, and potassium nitrate all increased water uptake. Despite changes in stomatal conductance and water uptake, there were no significant changes in needle retention. Needle abscission commenced after an average of 12.5 days from postharvest treatment application and reached 100% completion after an average of 71.9 days. It is possible to manipulate stomatal conductance and water uptake through chemical methods, but such a manipulation does not guarantee superior needle retention. It is proposed that deficiency of certain hormonal signals originating from roots may play a critical role in postharvest needle abscission.

show abstract

Temperature and Photoperiod Influence Postharvest Needle Abscission of Selected Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea L. (Mill.)) Genotypes by Modulating ABA Levels

Cited by 9 publications

References 22 publications

Xylem-fed maple sap accelerates balsam fir needle abscission and but can delay water loss in spring and autumn

Xylem-fed maple sap accelerates balsam fir needle abscission and but can delay water loss in spring and autumn

Understanding the Physiology of Postharvest Needle Abscission in Balsam Fir

Modifying stomatal conductance delays dehydration but not postharvest needle abscission in Abies balsamea

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