© 1986 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Dimensions of the growing shoot and the absolute growth rate of a poplar shoot
G. A. Pieters
Department of Plant Physiological Research, Agricultural University, Generaal Foulkesweg 72,
6703 BW Wageningen, The Netherlands /
Summary
Plants of Populus euramericana (Dode) Guinier Robusta were grown in sub-irrigated, gravel-filled containers under conditions of constant temperature and
irradiance. Lengths of leaves and internodes and diameters of internodes were measured three times a week. Dates of internode
maturation were estimated from the growth curves of the internodes. At these dates, the length of the elongating portion of
the shoot, or growing shoot (GS), could be determined. The growing shoot increased in length as a function of plant age. The
diameter of GS was related to its length. The relationship between the volume of GS and both the absolute growth rate of a
branch and the architecture of the vascular system are discussed.
