Abstract
Extension growth, number of internodes of the main stem, and sylleptic branches were recorded weekly during the 1994 growing season on 1-year-old Juglans regia L. cv. Lara scions. Date of sylleptic branch production and branch position on the main stem were also recorded. Two main stem types were distinguished according to their growth pattern: continuous or rhythmic over one growing season. Three sylleptic branch types were distinguished in relation with their growth pattern and morphology: (i) long shoots elongated in two growth flushes that showed a zone of short internodes above the first internode or hypopodium, (ii) long shoots elongated in one flush only with long internodes above the hypopodium, and (iii) short shoots corresponding with the elongated hypopodium only. Each type of sylleptic shoot is generally produced at a different growth period. Main stems developed sylleptic branches when their growth rate was higher than 17 cm/week. On the median part of the main stem, sylleptic long shoots were distributed according to a basipetal gradient of increasing vigour (extension duration, length, and number of internodes). Sylleptic short shoots were generally localized above long shoots.