Welcome to Bulletin of Botanical Research! Today is

Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 948-959.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2026.05.015

• Original Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Water-carbon Physiological Mechanism of Alternate Fruiting of Chinese Sea Buckthorn

Yongxin DAI, Chenkai NING, Peng TIAN, Zeqi LI, Xinli YANG, Lin WANG()   

  1. College of Forestry,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801
  • Received:2026-02-05 Online:2026-08-28 Published:2026-10-10
  • Contact: Lin WANG E-mail:lwanger@163.com

Abstract:

To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying alternate fruiting in Chinese sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis), on-year female, off-year female, and male plants were selected as materials. Branch water potential, branch percentage loss of conductivity(PLC) and leaf net photosynthetic rate(Pn) were measured in the current year(2022). Additionally, nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) content in branches and leaves, branch growth, fruiting traits, and fruit nutrient contents were assessed in both the current year and the subsequent year(2023). The results indicated that: (1)No significant differences were observed in branch predawn or midday water potential among the three plant types. Branch predawn PLC values remained below 20.0%, whereas midday PLC values ranged from 29.9% to 33.5%. (2) Significant differences in Pn were found among the groups. The Pn of on-year female plants was 55.7% and 20.0% higher than that of off-year female and male plants, respectively. In September of the current year, starch content in the branches and leaves of on-year female plants was 26.2%-42.2% lower than that of off-year female and male plants, with NSC content decreasing by 4.6%-29.7%. In April of the subsequent year, starch content in on-year female plants was 36.3%-60.5% lower, and NSC content decreased by 23.5%-42.1% compared to off-year female and male plants. (3)In the current year, growth indices of leaves, branches, and buds in off-year female plants were on average 19.1% higher than those in on-year female plants. In the subsequent year, growth indices in on-year female plants were on average 6.6% higher than those in off-year female plants. (4)In the current year, the fruit number per 10 cm of branch in on-year female plants was 2.1 times that of off-year female plants; however, longitudinal and transverse fruit diameters, mass per 100 fruits, and contents of soluble solids, vitamin C, and total flavonoids were significantly lower than those in off-year female plants. In the subsequent year, the fruit number per 10 cm of branch in off-year female plants was 1.3 times that of on-year female plants, with no significant differences in fruit nutrient contents. These findings suggest that branch, leaf, and bud growth in on-year female plants of sea buckthorn is significantly inhibited. The high carbohydrate demand for fruit development reduces carbon storage, leading to the decreased fruit and flower bud quality, which triggers alternate fruiting in the subsequent year. Water status is not the primary driver of alternate fruiting in Chinese sea buckthorn; rather, the storage and competition for photosynthetic products play a dominant role.

Key words: Chinese sea buckthorn, alternate fruiting, NSC, branch growth, fruit trait

CLC Number: