Characteristics of shoots from the bud bank in black oak

Abstract

WILSON, B. F. AND M. J. KELTY (Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003).-Characteristics of shoots from the bud bank in black oak. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 121: 62-68. 1994.-We compared black oak (Quercus velutina Lam.) leaf and shoot parameters between current shoots from current buds and reserve shoots formed from reserve buds after winter clipping treatments. We compared small trees growing in the light of an open field to trees in the shade of a forest understory in order to test for the importance of current and stored resources in shoot development. The populations of reserve shoots formed after clipping were similar to normal current shoots. Compared to current shoots, reserve shoots had the same numbers of leaves with similar lengths. Leaf areas per shoot, leaf number per shoot, and leaf lengths were lower on reserve than current shoots in the shade, but higher in the light. Mean shoot and internode lengths were greater for reserve than for current shoots primarily because there were fewer reserve shoots less than 4 cm long, particularly in the light. Only a few reserve shoots were longer than the longest current shoots. Specific leaf area was the same on reserve and current shoots. Leaves on reserve shoots were less lobed then on current shoots. In general, shoot populations from the two different compartments of the bud bank were similar.