Apical growth of Populus spp. II. Relative growth potential of apical and lateral buds

Populus tremuloides Michx. (trembling aspen) commonly regenerates by formation of suckers (adventitious shoots arising from roots). After decapitation, height increment of aspen suckers dependson the growth potential of the remaining axillary buds that form dominant shoots. The growth potential of lateral buds on the stem of aspen suckers is related to the length of the buds and some lateral buds have a growth potential greater than that of the apical. Decapitation of suckers was not detrimental to their subsequent height increment and in some cases height increment of the decapitated suckers was even greater than that of intact suckers. Decapitation also extended the growth period of suckers