Register      Login
Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Flush development in Tahitian lime

Trevor Olesen A B C , Glenn Smith A and Steven J. Muldoon A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, Australia.

B Faculty of Arts and Sciences, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: trevor.olesen@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Botany 61(5) 358-364 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT13104
Submitted: 13 April 2013  Accepted: 31 May 2013   Published: 18 July 2013

Abstract

The relationship between the cycle of flush development and temperature is not well described for Tahitian lime, or citrus species in general. We pruned trees over 16 months in the humid subtropics of northern New South Wales (NSW), and monitored post-pruning flush development over two cycles, in terms of flush commencement and flowering. We also recorded temperatures over this period. The time from pruning to the emergence of the first post-pruning flush was correlated with mean daily temperature, with emergence being slower at cooler temperatures. Emergence times ranged from 11 to 39 days. The time between the commencement of the first and second flushes was also correlated with mean daily temperature, with slower development of the first flush at cooler temperatures. The duration of the first flush varied from 41 to 128 days. There was more flowering on the first than the second flush (16% of shoots versus 3%). There was no flowering on flushes that commenced in the warmer months, from November to March. The temperature threshold for flowering appeared to be at a mean daily temperature of ~20°C. Regressions between flush development and temperature were used to estimate the effects of climate warming from 1963–1971 to 2003–2011, using long-term temperature records. The warming decreased bud emergence time by 1.6 days in winter and 1 day in summer; and reduced the time from the first to the second flush by 11.8 days in winter and 9.2 days in summer. The results for Tahitian lime were similar to those for other recurrent flushing trees.

Additional keywords: climate, flowering, phenology, shoot growth.


References

Aurambout JP, Finlay KJ, Luck J, Beattie GAC (2009) A concept model to estimate the potential distribution of the Asiatic citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) in Australia under climate change – A means for assessing biosecurity risk. Ecological Modelling 220, 2512–2524.
A concept model to estimate the potential distribution of the Asiatic citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) in Australia under climate change – A means for assessing biosecurity risk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Batten DJ, McConchie CA (1995) Floral induction in growing buds of lychee (Litchi chinensis) and mango (Mangifera indica). Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 22, 783–791.
Floral induction in growing buds of lychee (Litchi chinensis) and mango (Mangifera indica).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cantuarias-Avilés T, Filho FAAM, Stuchi ES, da Silva SR, Espinoza-Núñez E, Neto HB (2012) Rootstocks for high fruit yield and quality of ‘Tahiti’ lime under rain-fed conditions. Scientia Horticulturae 142, 105–111.
Rootstocks for high fruit yield and quality of ‘Tahiti’ lime under rain-fed conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chaikiattiyos S, Menzel CM, Rasmussen TS (1994) Floral induction in tropical fruit trees: effects of temperature and water supply. Journal of Horticultural Science 69, 397–415.

Davenport TL (2000) Leaves are not necessary for citrus floral induction. In ‘Proceedings of the International Society of Citriculture IX Congress’. (Ed. LG Albrigo) pp. 660–661. Available from: http://www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/societies/ISC/ [Verified 20 June 2013]

dos Santos D, de Siqueira DL, Cecon PR (2011) Flower induction of acid lime trees ‘Tahiti’ subjected to low temperature. Ciência Rural 41, 397–403.

García-Luís A, Kanduser M, Santamarina P, Guardiola JL (1992) Low temperature influence on flowering in Citrus. The separation of inductive and bud dormancy releasing effects. Physiologia Plantarum 86, 648–652.
Low temperature influence on flowering in Citrus. The separation of inductive and bud dormancy releasing effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hieke S (2000) Physiology of leaf and fruit growth in lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). PhD Thesis, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany.

Krajewski AJ, Rabe E (1995) Citrus flowering: a critical evaluation. Journal of Horticultural Science 70, 357–374.

Li X, Xie R, Lu Z, Zhou Z (2010) The origin of cultivated citrus as inferred from internal transcribed spacer and amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprints. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 135, 341–350.

Lord EM, Eckard KJ (1985) Shoot development in Citrus sinensis L. (Washington navel orange). I. Floral and inflorescence ontogeny. Botanical Gazette 146, 320–326.
Shoot development in Citrus sinensis L. (Washington navel orange). I. Floral and inflorescence ontogeny.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lord EM, Eckard KJ (1987) Shoot development in Citrus sinensis L. (Washington navel orange). II. Alteration of developmental fate of flowering shoots after GA treatment. Botanical Gazette 148, 17–22.
Shoot development in Citrus sinensis L. (Washington navel orange). II. Alteration of developmental fate of flowering shoots after GA treatment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXkt1SrsL8%3D&md5=7141fda8bb48fdc0eceda12e009b6d53CAS |

McFadyen LM, Robertson D, Sedgley M, Kristiansen P, Olesen T (2011) Post-pruning shoot growth increases fruit abscission and reduces stem carbohydrates and yield in macadamia. Annals of Botany 107, 993–1001.
Post-pruning shoot growth increases fruit abscission and reduces stem carbohydrates and yield in macadamia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXltlemsrw%3D&md5=501111f3334e57b3ed10d47103f77031CAS | 21325025PubMed |

McFadyen LM, Robertson D, Sedgley M, Kristiansen P, Olesen T (2012) Time of pruning affects fruit abscission, stem carbohydrates and yield of macadamia. Functional Plant Biology 39, 481–492.
Time of pruning affects fruit abscission, stem carbohydrates and yield of macadamia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XnvFClt7s%3D&md5=15fcd789a23be3eeea9fa510a984d9daCAS |

Meehl GA, Stocker TF, Collins WD, Friedlingstein P, Gaye AT, Gregory JM, Kitoh A, Knutti R, Murphy JM, Noda A, Raper SCB, Watterson IG, Weaver AJ, Zhao Z-C (2007) Global climate projections. In ‘Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’. (Eds S Solomon, D Qin, M Manning, Z Chen, M Marquis, KB Averyt, M Tignor, HL Miller) (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Menzel C, Olesen T, McConchie C, Wiltshire N, Diczbalis Y, Wicks C (2000) ‘Optimizing canopy management in lychee, longan and rambutan. RIRDC Publication No. 00/29.’ (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation: Barton, ACT)

Monteiro da Cruz MdC, de Siqueira DL, Chamhum Salomão LC, Cecon PR (2008) Influence of paclobutrazol and of the environment temperature on flowering and fruitification of acid lime ‘Tahiti‘. Ciência e Agrotecnologia 32, 1148–1153.

Moss GI (1969) Influence of temperature and photoperiod on flower induction and inflorescence development in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). Journal of Horticultural Science 44, 311–320.

Moss GI (1976) Temperature effects on flower initiation in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 27, 399–407.
Temperature effects on flower initiation in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Muñoz-Fambuena N, Mesejo C, González-Mas MC, Primo-Millo E, Agusti M, Iglesias DJ (2011) Fruit regulates seasonal expression of flowering genes in alternate-bearing ‘Moncada’ mandarin. Annals of Botany 108, 511–519.
Fruit regulates seasonal expression of flowering genes in alternate-bearing ‘Moncada’ mandarin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21856639PubMed |

Muñoz-Fambuena N, Mesejo C, González-Mas MC, Iglesias DJ, Primo-Millo E, Agusti M (2012) Gibberellic acid reduces flowering intensity in sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] by repressing CiFT gene expression. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 31, 529–536.
Gibberellic acid reduces flowering intensity in sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] by repressing CiFT gene expression.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nakajima Y, Susanto S, Hasegawa K (1993) Influence of water stress in autumn on flower induction and fruiting in young pommel trees (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck). Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science 62, 15–20.
Influence of water stress in autumn on flower induction and fruiting in young pommel trees (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXltFKns74%3D&md5=f03962ac475cf9b0d2877f94c8a0a034CAS |

Nishikawa F, Endo T, Shimada T, Fujii H, Shimizu T, Omura M, Ikoma Y (2007) Increased CiFT abundance in the stem correlates with floral induction by low temperature in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshui Marc.) Journal of Experimental Botany 58, 3915–3927.
Increased CiFT abundance in the stem correlates with floral induction by low temperature in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshui Marc.)Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXkvVWi&md5=4ae5a6cc73a1142a84749d5cd27e3d42CAS | 18000016PubMed |

Nishikawa F, Endo T, Shimada T, Fujii H, Shimizu T, Omura M (2009) Differences in seasonal expression of flowering genes between deciduous trifoliate orange and evergreen Satsuma mandarin. Tree Physiology 29, 921–926.
Differences in seasonal expression of flowering genes between deciduous trifoliate orange and evergreen Satsuma mandarin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXovFShtb8%3D&md5=4379a5e01ab49dd30d9a647ea646a0efCAS | 19364704PubMed |

Nishikawa F, Iwasaki M, Fukamachi H, Nonaka K, Imai A, Takishita F, Yano T, Endo T (2012) Fruit bearing suppresses citrus Flowering Locus T expression in vegetative shoots of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshui Marc.). Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science 81, 48–53.
Fruit bearing suppresses citrus Flowering Locus T expression in vegetative shoots of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshui Marc.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XivVeitrY%3D&md5=190e2acf200dca464b7c8b0197eb2423CAS |

Olesen T (2005) The timing of flush development affects the flowering of avocado (Persea americana) and macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia × tetraphylla). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 723–729.
The timing of flush development affects the flowering of avocado (Persea americana) and macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia × tetraphylla).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olesen T (2011) Late 20th century warming in a coastal horticultural region and its effects on tree phenology. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 39, 119–129.
Late 20th century warming in a coastal horticultural region and its effects on tree phenology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olesen T, Muldoon SJ (2009) Branch development in custard apple (cherimoya Annona cherimola Miller × sugar apple A. squamosa L.) in relation to tip-pruning and flowering, including effects on production. Trees 23, 855–862.
Branch development in custard apple (cherimoya Annona cherimola Miller × sugar apple A. squamosa L.) in relation to tip-pruning and flowering, including effects on production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olesen T, Muldoon SJ (2012) Effects of defoliation on flower development in atemoya custard apple (Annona cherimola Mill. × A. squamosa L.) and implications for flower development modelling. Australian Journal of Botany 60, 160–164.
Effects of defoliation on flower development in atemoya custard apple (Annona cherimola Mill. × A. squamosa L.) and implications for flower development modelling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olesen T, Menzel CM, Wiltshire N, McConchie CA (2002) Flowering and shoot elongation of lychee in eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 977–983.
Flowering and shoot elongation of lychee in eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olesen T, Whalan K, Muldoon S, Robertson D, Meyer R (2006) On the control of bud release in macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 939–945.
On the control of bud release in macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olesen T, Menzel CM, McConchie CA, Wiltshire N (2013) Pruning to control tree size, flowering and production of litchi. Scientia Horticulturae 156, 93–98.
Pruning to control tree size, flowering and production of litchi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Raveh E, Cohen S, Raz T, Yakir D, Grava A, Goldschmidt EE (2003) Increased growth of young citrus trees under reduced radiation load in a semi-arid climate. Journal of Experimental Botany 54, 365–373.
Increased growth of young citrus trees under reduced radiation load in a semi-arid climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhtlOhsr8%3D&md5=0af6a54ecfab4eaf911f75ecdfbc5175CAS | 12493865PubMed |

Shahabian M, Samar SM, Talaie A, Emdad MR (2012) Response of orange trees to deficit irrigation strategies in the north of Iran. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 58, 267–276.
Response of orange trees to deficit irrigation strategies in the north of Iran.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Southwick SM, Davenport TL (1986) Characterization of water stress and low temperature effects on flower induction in citrus. Plant Physiology 81, 26–29.
Characterization of water stress and low temperature effects on flower induction in citrus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cnhs12msw%3D%3D&md5=3bb76923fa1407aa952d5a22180f82d3CAS | 16664786PubMed |

Southwick SM, Davenport TL (1987) Modification of the water stress-induced floral response in ‘Tahiti’ lime. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 112, 231–236.

Vock N, Owen-Turner J, Smith D, Mayers P (1998) ‘Citrus information kit. Agrilink series QAL9703.’ (Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane)

Webb CP (2010) Bureau of meteorology reference evapotranspiration calculations. (http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/eto/reference-evapotranspiration- report.pdf)

Wilkie JD, Sedgley M, Robertson D, Olesen T (2008) The timing of pruning affects flush development and flowering in ‘Honey Gold’ mango. Acta Horticulturae 787, 241–243.

Wilkie JD, Sedgley M, Olesen T (2009) A model of vegetative flush development and its potential use managing macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) tree canopies. Crop and Pasture Science 60, 420–426.
A model of vegetative flush development and its potential use managing macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) tree canopies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wilkie JD, Sedgley M, Olesen T (2010) The timing of pruning affects flushing, flowering and yield of macadamia. Crop and Pasture Science 61, 588–600.
The timing of pruning affects flushing, flowering and yield of macadamia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williamson JG, Maust BE (1995) Growth of budded, containerized, citrus nursery plants when photosynthesis of rootstock shoots is limited. HortScience 30, 1363–1365.