Abstract
Chinese prickly ash is an ecologically and economically important tree species. In southwestern China, its yield is low due to severe fruit and flower drop related to the relatively low nutrient status of shoots and/or flowers caused by a lack of nutrient supply. Therefore, studies on flower bud differentiation are of great importance to improve the yield of Chinese prickly ash. An orthogonal experimental design was used to study the effects of N (urea, 97.8, 195.7 and 391.3 g/individual), P (superphosphate, 150, 300 and 600 g/individual) and K (potassium sulphate, 83.3, 166.7 and 333.3 g/individual) treatments on flower bud differentiation in 3-year-old Zanthoxylum armatum ‘Hanyuan Putao Qingjiao’ trees. The results showed that N, P and K fertilizer application significantly increased the flower bud differentiation rate, branch diameter and number, the soluble sugar content, the soluble protein content, the C/N ratio, the ABA content and the ABA/IAA ratio but decreased the GA content and IAA content in Chinese prickly ash. The flower bud differentiation rate was positively related to the soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, C/N ratio and ABA/IAA ratio (p < 0.05) but negatively related to GA and IAA (p < 0.05). A higher P content increased the accumulation of nutrients and ABA in the buds, thereby promoting the flower bud differentiation in Z. armatum ‘Hanyuan Putao Qingjiao’. From these results, the flower bud differentiation in Z. armatum ‘Hanyuan Putao Qingjiao’ requires appropriate N, P and K fertilizer ratios and amounts. Treatment 12 (N2P3K1) significantly improved the absorption of nutrients in the buds and promoted the differentiation of flower buds.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alam F, us Saqib QN, Waheed A (2017) Cytotoxic activity of extracts and crude saponins from Zanthoxylum armatum DC. against human breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468) and colorectal (Caco-2) cancer cell lines. BMC Complement Altern Med 17:368. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1882-1
Alam F, us Saqibm QN, Ashraf M (2018) Zanthoxylum armatum DC extracts from fruit, bark and leaf induce hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects in mice–in vivo and in vitro study. BMC Complement Altern Med 18:68. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2138-4
Artaria C, Maramaldi G, Bonfigli A, Rigano L, Appendino G (2011) Lifting properties of the alkamide fraction from the fruit husks of Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Int J Cosmet Sci 33:328–333. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2010.00629.x
Bi J, Zhao JX, Wang CR, Zhao YF (2002) World research progress in Bunge prickly ash (Zanthoxylum bungeanum). Econ For Res 20:46–48 (in Chinese). https://doi.org/10.14067/j.cnki.1003-8981.2002.01.019
Bradford M (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3
Bushway LJ, Pritts MP (2001) Enhancing early spring microclimate to increase carbon resources and productivity in June-bearing strawberry. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 127:415–422. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.127.3.415
Cao SY, Zhang QM, Wu S (2003) Advances in research on the mechanism of flower bud differentiation of fruit trees. J Fruit Sci 20:345–350 (in Chinese). https://doi.org/10.13925/j.cnki.gsxb.2003.05.003
Capa D, Pérez-Esteban J, Masaguer A (2015) Unsustainability of recommended fertilization rates for coffee monoculture due to high N2O emissions. Agron Sustain Dev 35:1551–1559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-015-0316-z
Chen MY, Jiang DD, Liu Y, Jiang M (1990) Study of the effects of soil conditions in Hanyuan county and boric fertilizer on flower and prematur fruit drop of Zanthoxytum bungeamum. J Sichuan Agric Univ 8:331–337. https://doi.org/10.16036/j.issn.1000-2650.1990.04.010 (in Chinese).
Dubois M, Gilles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F (1956) Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal Chem 28:350–356. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac60111a017
Eshghi S, Tafazoli E, Dokhani S, Rahemi M, Emam Y (2007) Changes in carbohydrate contents in shoot tips, leaves and roots of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) during flower-bud differentiation. Sci Hortic 113:255–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2007.03.014
Fredeen AL, Rao IM, Terry N (1989) Influence of phosphorus nutrition on growth and carbon partitioning in glycine max. Plant Physiol 89:225–230. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.89.1.225
Gao JF (2006) Experimental guidance of plant physiology. Higher Education Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
García-Pallas I, Val J, Blanco A (2001) The inhibition of flower bud differentiation in ‘Crimson Gold’ nectarine with GA3 as an alternative to hand thinning. Sci Hortic 90:265–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4238(01)00229-1
Heide OM, Stavang JA, Sønsteby A (2013) Physiology and genetics of flowering in cultivated and wild strawberries—a review. J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 88:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2013.11512930
Hu Y, Tian L, Shi JW, Tian JY, Zhao LL, Feng SJ, Wei AZ (2018) Genetic structure of cultivated Zanthoxylum species investigated with SSR markers. Tree Genet Genomes 14:89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-018-1300-y
Ito A, Hayama H, Kashimura Y (2002) Sugar metabolism in buds during flower bud formation: a comparison of two Japanese pear [Pyrus pyrifolia, (Burm.) Nak.] cultivars possessing different flowering habits. Sci Hortic 96:163–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4238(02)00122-X
Kostenyuk I, Oh BJ, So IS (1999) Induction of early flowering in Cymbidium niveo-marginatum Mak in vitro. Plant Cell Rep 19:1–5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050701
Li WJ, Yang TX (2013) Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Sanqin Press, Xi’an (in Chinese)
Li YM, Zhang D, Xing LB, Zhang SW, Zhao CP, Han MY (2016) Effect of exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) on branchtype, floral induction and initiation, and related gene expression in ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh). Plant Growth Regul 79:65–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-015-0111-5
Li WF, Mao J, Li XW, Su J, Dawuda MM, Ma ZH, Zuo CW, An ZS, Chen BH (2018) Effects of CEPA and 1-MCP on flower bud differentiation of apple cv. ‘Nagafu No. 2’ grafted on different rootstocks. J Plant Growth Regul 38:842–854. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-018-9895-7
Lobell DB (2007) The cost of uncertainty for nitrogen fertilizer management: a sensitivity analysis. Field Crop Res 100:210–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2006.07.007
Riboni M, Robustelli TA, Galblati M, Tonelli C, Cont L (2016) ABA-dependent control of GIGANTEA signalling enables drought escape via up-regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS T in Arabidopsis thaliana. J Exp Bot 67:6309–6322. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erw384
Rodrigo J, Herrero M, Hormaza JI (2009) Pistil traits and flower fate in apricot (Prunus armeniaca). Ann Appl Biol 154:365–375
Singh G, Singh R, Verma PK, Singh R, Anand A (2016) Anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. Seeds against Haemonchus contortus of small ruminants. J Parasit Dis 40:528–532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0540-5
Song C, Yin MY, Jiang ZM, Li H, Wuyun TN, Song JJ (2017) Relationship between flower bud differentiation and change of endogenous hormone of ‘Youyi’ during dormancy period. J Northwest A&F Univ (Nat Sci Ed) 45:170–176. https://doi.org/10.13207/j.cnki.jnwafu.2017.06.023 (in Chinese).
Sønsteby A, Knut AS, Heide OM (2016) Functional growth analysis of ‘Sonata’ strawberry plants grow under controlled temperature and daylength conditions. Sci Hortic 211:26–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2016.08.003
Tabuenca MC (1969) Variaciones en la concentración de hidratos de carbono en árboles frutales durante los periodos de reposo invernal y latencia. An Estac Exp Aula Dei 10:725–743
Tian YQ, Zhang CY, Guo MQ (2017) Comparative study on alkaloids and their anti-proliferative activities from three Zanthoxylum species. BMC Complement Altern Med 17:460. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1966-y
Usuda H, Shimogawara K (1991) Phosphate deficiency in maize. I. Leaf phosphate status, growth, photosynthesis and carbon partitioning. Plant Cell Physiol 32:497–504. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a078107
Vajari MA, Moghadam JF, Eshghi S (2018) Influence of late season foliar application of urea, boric acid and zinc sulfate on nitrogenous compounds concentration in the bud and flower of Hayward kiwifruit. Sci Hortic 242:137–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.07.029
Vasconcelos MC, Greven M, Winefield CS, Trought MC, Raw V (2009) The flowering process of Vitis vinifera: a review. Am J Enol Vitic 60:411–434
Wang JY, Gong W, Xiao QW, Hu W, Wang Y, Lu CY, Zhang YY, Gou GJ (2016) A new cold tolerance green Chinese prickly ash cultivar ‘Hanyuan Putao Qingjiao’. Acta Hortic Sin 43:1425–1426. https://doi.org/10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2014-0013 (in Chinese).
Wan CY, Mi L, Chen BY, Li JF, Huo HZ, Xu JT, Chen XP (2018) Effects of nitrogen during nursery stage on flower bud differentiation and early harvest after transplanting in strawberry. Braz J Bot 41:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-017-0417-9
Zubair M, Banday FA, Baba JA, Rehman MU, Hussain SS, Waida UA (2017) Impact of foliar application of urea on fruit set, return bloom and growth of apple cv. Red Delicious. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci 6:2123–2130. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.607. 249
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFD1000605) and the Breeding Project of Sichuan Province for the 13th Five-year Plan (2016NYZ0035).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
CZ wrote the manuscript, YC and HW analysed the data, ZY designed the tables and figures, FD and ZB performed the experiments, WG designed the experiment, and JW revised the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Research involving human participants and/or animals
This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Additional information
Communicated by Sanghyun Lee.
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhou, C., Cai, Y., Yang, Z. et al. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization promotes Zanthoxylum armatum ‘Hanyuan Putao Qingjiao’ flower bud differentiation in Sichuan, China. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 61, 651–661 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-020-00251-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-020-00251-9