Search Results
You are looking at 11 - 12 of 12 items for
- Author or Editor: Vito S. Polito x
Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb (syn. Prunus amygdalus Batsch, Amygdalus communis L.)] flower bud development for three cultivars (Nonpareil, Carmel, and Butte) from four California locations (which span the range of almond production in California) for 2 years, and for `Nonpareil' in a single location for a third year. The objectives were to document timing of floral developmental events and to better understand the extent of variation that exists within and among cultivars, locations, and years. Results indicated that the time of floral initiation relative to hull split varied among cultivars. Median time for floral initiation in `Nonpareil' was more than 3 weeks after the onset of hull split. For `Butte' and `Carmel', median time of floral initiation preceded the onset of hull split. Extensive variation in the timing of bud development events within a cultivar was apparent. Timing of developmental events varied among locations, but no patterns emerged consistent with the north to south range which spanned 4°15' latitude and 520 km. Among years, development occurred earliest in 1997, a relatively warm year, and was delayed in 1998 and 1999, relatively cool years. Results indicate an earlier onset of floral initiation than reported in the classical literature on the subject.
Abstract
Leaf morphology of Pistacia atlantica Desf., P. chinensis Bunge, P. integerrima Stewart, P. khinjuk Stocks, P. lentiscus L., P. mexicana HBK, P. mutica F.&P., P. vera L., and P. weinmannifolia Poisson were compared. P. lentiscus, P. mexicana, and P. weinmannifolia were hypostomatic while the other species were amphistomatic. Leaves of P. vera, which are oriented randomly, appeared to be isolateral, while leaves of the other species are dorsiventral and are oriented horizontally. Differences in the length and density of the ab- and adaxial palisade cells and in the shape of the spongy parenchyma cells were noted among species. In an effort to relate structure to function, the daily patterns of carbon dioxide assimilation rate, A, and leaflet conductance, g, to water vapor among P. atlantica, P. integerrima, and P. vera were determined under field conditions. The mean maximum Pn rates were 2.1, 1.0, and 2.0 nmol CO2 cm−2 s−1, respectively.