Variation in Shoot Organization in Prunus (Rosaceae) with Special Reference to Prunus ogawana

Abstract

To determine variation in shoot development in Prunus (Rosaceae), we observed and compared the shoot organization of 13 species (9 species of subgen. Cerasus sect. Pseudocerasus; 1 species of sect. Microcerasus; 1 species of sect. Phyllomahaleb; 1 species of subgen. Prunus; and 1 species of subgen. Padus). As a result, we can categorize the observed species into four distinct groups based on shoot organization of 1) types of winter bud growth, 2) growth of buds in the axils of scale-like prophylls, and 3) shoot abscission. The first group includes all species of subgen. Cerasus sect. Pseudocerasus and sect. Phyllomahaleb except P. ogawana. The second group includes only P. ogawana, the third group contains P. mume and P. glandulosa, and the fourth group contains only P. grayana. Prunus ogawana (subgen. Cerasus sect. Pseudocerasus) is distinct from other members of sect. Pseudocerasus in that all winter buds develop in the axils of scale-like prophylls and mixed shoots produce both flowers and leaves. In addition, this grouping is basically supported by the phylogenetic DNA analysis of Prunus.