Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
cutting has struck. Groundcovers are plants
that naturally grow horizontally. However, the
density of the branchlets and subsequent
leaves will be increased if the apical buds (on
the end of the main stems) are pinched out.
This will make the plant much more effective
as a groundcover.
WHYPRUNE?
• Pruning can direct how water and nutrients
are distributed through the plant
• It maximises the potential of certain growth
points/meristems
• By understanding how the cambium and
hormones work, the pruner can direct
growth to where it is needed
• The apical bud will always dominate the
rest of the plant, creating vegetative growth
heading upwards
• Axillary buds growing sideways produce
more flowering/fruiting wood
Axillarybuds
To create bushy plants the solution is easy;
just pinch out the top, apical bud, and there
will be an immediate reallocation of plant
resources to promote axillary or lateral (side)
buds (see Figure 1.5).
Axillary buds, active or inactive,
are found on
the sides of the stems at the leaf nodes. They
originate from meristems located between
the base of leaves and the stem. They are the
poor and completely oppressed, until
stimulated into growth by a change in
hormone levels brought about by removing
the apical (top) bud. These axillary buds will
one day form the side branches of the plant.
It stands to reason that the more light and
nutrients a bud/node/leaf receives, the more
active and productive it will be. The
resulting healthier, stronger buds are more
likely to produce f flowers and/or fruit rather
than the vegetative growth produced by the
apical bud.
As branches grow more horizontally or
sideways (lateral growth), the flow of the
cambium (xylem and phloem) slows, rather
than racing to the top of the plant. As the
flow of the cambium slows, each bud/node
has a greater opportunity to reap its riches.
Thus the plant will produce more flowers and
fruit on lateral growth than on vertical
vegetative growth.
Not only are the hormone levels changed
when the apical bud is removed, the axillary
buds/nodes now have more access to light.
This means they are more likely to develop
leaves and stems which then photosynthesise,
thus increasing the plant's food-
manufacturing opportunities.
Figure 1.5
When the apical bud is removed, the
meristems that have been suppressed in the leaf axils now
become active. This is essential to encourage a bushy
plant.
