• Michaud, Sylvia Marian
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

The goal of two experiments conducted on balsam fir (Abies balsamea L.) seedlings was to produce a larger seedling at the end of a single growing season through effects of two growth regulators, bensyladenine (BA) and gibberellic acid (GA3)-Benzyladenine was applied to induce flushing and extend active growth, and GA3 was applied to increase height growth by elongating plant stems. It was concluded that BA will cause flushing of buds into shoots and extend the period of active growth but that an additional mechanism is needed to increase the overall vegetative growth of seedlings. The mechanism may involve determining an optimum GA treatment or using nutrients or light to supplement growth.