Effects of gibberellins on flower bud formation and fruit quality in Camellia oleifera

To explore the effects of different concentrations of gibberellins （GAs） on flower bud formation and fruit quality in Camellia oleifera, foliage spray experiments were conducted using GA solutions at different concentrations before the physiological differentiation period of Camellia oleifera flower buds. The test material was the high yield Xiang-Lin series. Results indicated that different concentrations of GA decreased the number of new shoots, with the 100 mgL－1 treatment being highest at 38.6%; The 200 mgL－1 treatment had the best effect on the distance between nodes which increased by 8.5%; The 300 mgL－1 treatment had the best effects on flower bud formation and fruit quality; with an improved new shoot length of 9.4% , an increase in the composition of long shoots of 49.2%, and increases in flower bud size （23.1%） and weight （5.3%）. The 300 mgL－1 treatment also improved flower bud differentiation and fruit quality with a flower bud differentiation of 0.38, fruit weight of 20.06 g, seed weight of 10.20 g, kernel weight of 9.10 g and kernel rate of 45.4%. With 29.2%, 60.5%, 62.9%, 70.7% and 6.4% more than that of the control.［Ch, 2 fig. 5 tab. 26 ref.］