TY - JOUR AU - Cochard, H. AU - Coste, S. AU - Chanson, B. AU - Guehl, J.M. AU - Nicolini, E. PY - 2005// TI - Hydraulic architecture correlates with bud organogenesis and primary shoot growth in beech (Fagus sylvatica) T2 - Tree Physiol. JO - Tree Physiology SP - 1545 EP - 1552 VL - 25 IS - 12 PB - HERON PUBLISHING KW - development KW - hydraulic conductance KW - leaf primordia KW - meristem KW - xylem N2 - In beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), the number of leaf primordia preformed in the buds determines the length and the type (long versus short) of annual growth units, and thus, branch growth and architecture. We analyzed the correlation between the number of leaf primordia and the hydraulic conductance of the vascular system connected to the buds. Terminal buds of short growth units and axillary buds of long growth units on lower branches of mature trees were examined. Buds with less than four and more than five leaf primordia formed short and long growth units, respectively. Irrespective of the type of growth unit the bud was formed on, the occurrence of a large number of leaf primordia was associated with high xylem hydraulic conductance. Xylem conductance was correlated to the area of the outermost annual ring. These results suggest that organogenesis and primary growth in buds correlates with secondary growth of the growth units and thus with their hydraulic architecture. Possible causal relationships between the variables are discussed. SN - 0829-318X N1 - ISI:000234019900008 ID - Cochard_etal2005 ER -