Shedding of Plant Parts focuses on the anatomical, physiological, and ecological features of shedding of vegetative and reproductive parts of plants. This book encompasses both natural and induced shedding.
Organized into 12 chapters, this book first outlines the extent of shedding of plant cells, tissues, and organs and summarizes the biological and economic implications of such shedding. Separate chapters follow that discuss anatomical and histochemical changes in leaf abscission; the physiological ecology and internal regulation of abscission; and the shedding of shoots, branches, bark, roots, pollen, seeds, and reproductive structures of forest trees. This book also explains the anatomical changes in abscission of reproductive structures, chemical thinning of flowers and fruits, and chemical control of fruit abscission.
This book will be valuable to plant anatomists, pathologists, and physiologists, and to agronomists, arborists, biochemists, ecologists, entomologists, foresters, horticulturists, landscape architects, meteorologists, and soil scientists.

List of ContributorsPreface1. Extent and Significance of Shedding of Plant Parts I. Introduction II. Shedding of Various Plant Parts III. Importance of Natural and Induced Shedding of Plant Parts References2. Anatomical and Histochemical Changes in Leaf Abscission I. Leaf Longevity II. Senescence and Abscission III. Scope of Anatomical Research IV. The Abscission Zone V. Structural Changes in the Abscission Zone VI. Histochemical Studies of Cell Walls References3. Physiological Ecology of Abscission I. Introduction II. Ecological Factors and Their Physiological Implications for Abscission References4. Internal Factors Regulating Abscission I. Introduction II. The Signal III. What Is Senescence? IV. The Stimulus for Senescence V. The Processes of Abscission VI. The Regulation of Ethylene Production VII. The Model for Abscission References5. Shedding of Shoots and Branches I. Introduction II. Abortion of Shoot Tips III. Shedding of Lateral Branches References6. Development and Shedding of Bark I. Introduction II. Bark Tissues III. Bark Development References7. Shedding of Roots I. Introduction II. Life History of Roots III. Control of Root Growth IV. Loss of Tissue from Healthy Roots V. Natural Death of Roots VI. Death of Roots Associated with the Nature of the Soil and Fertilization VII. Death of Roots as a Result of Factors Affecting the Aerial Parts of the Plant VIII. Damage to Roots Associated with Soil Animals IX. Death of Roots Caused by Soil Fungi References8. Shedding of Pollen and Seeds I. Introduction II. Pollen III. Pollination IV. Seeds V. Conclusions References9. Shedding of Reproductive Structures in Forest Trees I. Introduction II. Abscission or Death prior to Anthesis III. Abscission between Anthesis and Fertilization IV. Abscission or Death between Fertilization and Seed Maturity V. The Practical Implications of Abscission of Reproductive Structures in Forest Trees References10. Anatomical Changes in Abscission of Reproductive Structures I. Introduction II. Peach-Prunus persica L. (Lott and Simons, 1964) III. Montmorency Cherry-Prunus cerasus L. (Lott and Simons, 1966) IV. Starking Hardy Giant Cherry-Prunus avium L. (Lott and Simons, 1968b) V. Wilson Delicious Apricot-Prunus armeniaca L. (Lott and Simons, 1968a) References11. Chemical Thinning of Flowers and Fruits I. Introduction II. History of Thinning Sprays III. Chemical Thinning of Apples (Malus punila Mill.) IV. Chemical Thinning of Pears (Pyrus communis L.) V. Chemical Thinning of Stone Fruits VI. Chemical Thinning of Other Fruits VII. Conclusions References12. Chemical Control of Fruit Abscission I. Introduction II. Screening Program for Abscission-Inducing Chemicals III. Effect of Ethephon on Fruit Abscission IV. Effect of Cycloheximide (CHI) on Fruit Abscission V. Effect of Growth Regulators on Fruit Abscission VI. Side Effects of Abscission-Inducing Chemicals on Fruit Trees VII. General Discussion and Conclusions ReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index