Abstract

Overwintering raspberry roots had a dormancy sequence similar to that found in canes and they also showed a sequence of changes in starch and sugar concentrations. These suggested a movement of food reserves from canes to roots in late November, although the concentration of sugars also became high in the canes at this time. These changes were not associated with dormancy changes and may have been induced by weather changes. A genotype with delayed dormancy and prolonged leaf retention had a relatively high December concentration of starch in the roots, but this could not be associated with any advantageous differences later.