Vector correlation analysis of seasonal dynamics of apical growth of shoots of lilac varieties

The purpose of the research is to determine the possibility of evaluating and discriminating different varieties of lilacs by means of vector-correlation analysis (VCA) of seasonal dynamics of apical growth of shoots, and using this approach to determine the growth characteristics of lilac shoots that differ in growth activity at the stage of slowing down and stopping growth. The growth of shoots of 12 lilac varieties growing in the collection of the Institute Botanic Garden of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences was studied. The measurements were carried out during the growing season with an interval of seven days. The implemented approach consisted in applying the VCA method to the data on the seasonal dynamics of shoot growth, subsequent clustering of its results, and ranking the identified clusters in accordance with the degree of manifestation in them of the generalized parameter calculated during the analysis. Based on the VCA, it was found that in the process of morphogenesis in lilac bushes, vegetative shoots of the second order of branching are divided into 3 types according to the type of seasonal dynamics of apical growth, including the timing and duration of individual phases at the stage of completion of growth. The quantitative ratio of individual types of shoots differs in different lilac varieties and is a promising indicator when studying the possibilities of introduction and breeding for winter hardiness and decorativeness. © 2023 Author(s)