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Branch morphology in young poplar clones on floodplain sites in Missouri

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Four Populus clones were grown in central Missouri for 2 years at 1 x 1 m spacing to study total biomass production on floodplain sites previously in forage grasses. Branch morphology (living, first-order proleptic, and sylleptic shoots) was assessed for 2-year-old plants. All 2-year-old plants had lateral branches, and clones varied significantly in certain branch attributes. A Populus deltoides x P. nigra hybrid (I45/51) had significantly more branches, greater total branch length and more branches per unit height than did three P. deltoides clones (26C6R51, 2059, 1112) derived from Midwest region collections. Further, I45/51 carried a greater proportion of its branches on the lower stem than did P. deltoides clones. Whereas intense branching often occurred below 50 cm height in the hybrid clone, P. deltoides plants often were clear of branches below 1 to 2 m. Mean angles of branch origin were similar among clones (46.9º to 51.1º) with no significant differences. Length-weighted vector averages of branch azimuth indicated that there was a significant trend toward greater branch growth on the south side of trees, but little apparent clonal variation in this attribute. The profuse branching habit of the hybrid I45/51 was closely associated with its high second-year leaf area index and biomass production.

Parent Publication

Citation

Pallardy, Stephen G.; Gibbins, Daniel E. 2003. Branch morphology in young poplar clones on floodplain sites in Missouri. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 489-495
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/15842