Determination of the Pattern of Winter Dormancy in Lateral Buds of Apples

Controlled environmental conditions and decapitation treatments were used to distinguish and determine the relative importance of environmentally-imposed dormancy, correlative inhibition and rest on the imposition of winter dormancy of lateral buds on detached shoots and potted seedlings of apples. It is established that the winter dormancy of lateral buds follows a pattern similar to that previously proposed for buds in general. The minimum procedure for the assessment of dormancy in lateral buds is discussed.