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Changes in Endogenous Hormone Levels Explains Seasonal Variation in Balsam Fir Needle Abscission Patterns

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Abstract

Postharvest needle abscission in balsam fir varies considerably depending on the season and may be dependent on endogenous hormones of roots or shoots. Samples were obtained from three trees each month from April 2013 to November 2013 and evaluated for retention. In addition, root and needle tissues were analyzed for abscisic acid, cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins and their conjugates. There was a 3.5-fold increase in time until needle abscission commencement and 1.75-fold increase in time until complete abscission in autumn compared to spring. There were several changes to root and needle hormones with respect to harvest time, but fewer hormones were linked to postharvest needle retention. Among all hormones analyzed, both isopentenyladenine and isopentenyladenosine in roots were strongly linked to needle retention. When isopentenyladenine was present in roots, needle abscission took 114% longer to begin and 58% longer to finish. Isopentenyladenosine in roots was the strongest hormonal predictor of needle retention (R 2 = 79%). Dihydrozeatin riboside (R 2 = 37%), trans-abscisic acid (R 2 = 50%), and isopentenyladenosine (R 2 = 59%) in the needles were also strong predictors of needle retention. The relative effectiveness of certain hormones in predicting needle retention and speculation pertaining to the roles these hormones could play are discussed.

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Abbreviations

2iP:

Isopentenyl adenine

7′-OH-ABA:

7′-Hydroxy ABA

ABA:

Abscisic acid

ABAGE:

Abscisic acid glucose ester

dhZ:

Dihydrozeatin

dhZR:

Dihydrozeatin riboside

DPA:

Dihydrophaseic acid

HPLC:

High-pressure liquid chromatography

HPLC-ESI-MS/MS:

HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

iPA:

Isopentenyl adenosine

GA:

Gibberellins

IAA:

Indole acetic acid

IAA-Ala:

IAA-alanine

IAA-Asp:

IAA-asparagine

IAA-Glu:

IAA-glucoside

IAA-Leu:

IAA-leucine

NAC:

Needle abscission commencement

NRD:

Needle retention duration

PA:

Phaseic acid

Z:

Zeatin

ZOG:

Zeatin-O-glucoside

ZR:

Zeatin riboside.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (CRDPJ-364061-07/09) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (195310). The authors greatly appreciate contributions made by the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. Finally, the authors thank Matthew Priest for unrestricted access to the balsam fir orchard.

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  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Christmas Tree Research Center, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B6L 2R2, Canada

    Mason T. MacDonald & Rajasekaran R. Lada

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  1. Mason T. MacDonald
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  2. Rajasekaran R. Lada
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Correspondence to Mason T. MacDonald.

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MacDonald, M.T., Lada, R.R. Changes in Endogenous Hormone Levels Explains Seasonal Variation in Balsam Fir Needle Abscission Patterns. J Plant Growth Regul 36, 723–733 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9676-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9676-8

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