PJB-2018-683
FLOWER BUD DIFFERENTIATION STAGES OF BLACKBERRIES
Beril KOCAMAN
Abstract
Knowledge of the timing of flower bud differentiation is important for influencing the formation of flower buds through various horticultural practices. It may also prove useful for manipulating fruit production. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to determine the timing of flower bud differentiation and development stages of 4 biennial fruiting blackberry (Rubus spp.) cultivars grown in north Turkey: ‘Jumbo’, ‘Dirksen Thornless’, ‘Chester’, and ‘Bursa 1’. Axillary bud samples were collected from the middle parts of the lateral branches every 7–15 days from September 2008 to May 2010. Ten development stages were identified from the flower bud differentiation to post-bloom periods. The transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage occurred during September to October, with the differentiation of the terminal flower occurring on September 18 in ‘Bursa 1’, October 4–9 in ‘Dirksen Thornless’, October 16–20 in ‘Jumbo’, and October 20–22 in ‘Chester’. In all the examined cultivars, flower development occurred between September and June and lasted for 193–215 days. Key words: Rubus, blackberry, flower initiation, floral development, paraffin methods, microscopy
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