Understanding dormancy release in raspberry

The control of bud break through a temperature-dependent mechanism is a key ecological factor in woody perennial plant survival. Additionally, important aspects of plant architecture and development are regulated by the coordinated regulation of bud growth. Thus bud dormancy is fundamental to the study of plant developmental processes. Regulation of bud break is also of signifi cant economic importance to fruit and horticultural industries. Bud break in protected raspberry crops is often poor and uneven, with many lateral buds failing to break at all. In order to extend cropping, current practice uses heated glasshouses, and therefore the ability to predict dormancy release becomes a major factor in early fruit production. Furthermore, such concerns are likely to become increasingly important fo