Disbudding and Its Effect on Dry Matter Distribution in Chrysanthemum Morifolium

SummaryAxillary inflorescence buds were removed from branched plants of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. cv Bright Golden Anne at various times before anthesis of the terminal flowers to determine the effect of disbudding on the production and distribution of assimilates. The axillary inflorescence buds were major sites for the accumulation of assimilates but the time of disbudding had no significant effect on either the overall production of dry matter or the total amount distributed to the flowers. Thus the weight of the terminal flowers at anthesis, and hence their quality, was progressively reduced the later that disbudding was performed, and the amount by which their weight was reduced was equal to the weight of the axillary inflorescence buds that were removed. If plants were not disbudded, the weight of their terminal flowers was about 60% of that recorded from plants disbudded at the earliest opportunity. It is concluded that disbudding should be performed as early as possible.