Growth and fruiting characteristics of two age Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge trees
两种林龄文冠果的生长和结实特性

The growth and fruiting characteristics of two age X . sorbifolia bunge trees were studied with field observation and indoor experiment. The results showed that the number of fruit-setting per tree, the longitudinal and transverse diameter,and the thousand-seed weight of 8-year-old trees were all obviously larger than those of 50-year-old trees.The difference between the two age trees in the number of seeds per fruit was not significant( P >0.05).The total flower amounts of the young trees were 1.66 times amounts of the old trees.There was no significant difference in the proportion of female flowers between the two age trees,but the fruit setting rate of the old trees was significantly higher. The spring shoot increment of the young trees was obviously larger than that of the old trees. On the whole, there were significant differences in the growth and fruiting index between the two age trees,which was related to available nutrients in soil.