Effects of light quality on gas exchange and dry matter partitioning in Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden

Stockplants of Eucalyptus grandis were pruned to a height of 7–10 cm and after 3 weeks were placed in growth cabinets set at a photon flux density (PFD) of 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and red to far-red ratios of 0.4, 0.7, 1.3, 3.5 or 6.5. Experiments tested the effects of light quality on growth and gas exchange of stockplants. Light quality did not affect the total shoot dry weight (DW), root DW or shoot to root ratio of stockplants or their total leaf area. However, there were significant effects of light quality on: (i) plant height, which was greatest at red:far-red (R:FR) ratios of 0.4 and 0.7; (ii) partitioning of DW between leaves and stems, with greater stem DW and less leaf DW at low R:FR ratios (0.4 and 0.7); (iii) partitioning of DW and leaf area between the most dominant shoot and all other (non-dominant) shoots; (iv) specific leaf area, which was greatest at low R:FR ratios. In the above characters, the dominance ratio (ratio of most dominant shoot to sum of all other shoots) was greatest at low R:FR ratios and least at ratios of 3.5 and 6.5. Photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area and leaf chlorophyll concentration significantly increased with increasing R:FR ratio. However, photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll concentration was significantly greater at low R:FR ratios. Generally, light quality had no significant effect on photosynthetic rate per leaf or per unit dry weight, but rates of transpiration, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency increased with an increase in R:FR ratio. These data indicate that compensatory changes in plant morphology and gas exchange caused equality in total dry weight per plant between treatments. The above effects of light quality on dry matter partitioning and gas exchange had important effects on the size, number, morphology and physiology of subsequently collected cuttings for vegetative propagation.     

Characterization of a type II chlorophyll a/b-binding protein gene (Lhcb2*Pp1) in peach. II. mRNA abundance in developing leaves exposed to sun or shade

Leaf development of shoots exposed to full sunlight and shoots shaded by the canopy was followed in field-grown, mature peach trees (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, cv. Loring) during the first half of the 1995 growing season. The architecture and size of shaded shoots and sun-exposed shoots differed significantly. Total number of leaves produced on shaded shoots was significantly less than on sun-exposed shoots throughout the season, and differences in leaf number between light conditions increased as the season progressed. The overall patterns of leaf development along sun-exposed and shaded shoots were qualitatively similar. The expression pattern of the type II chlorophyll a/b-binding protein gene, Lhcb2*Pp1, determined by RNA abundance in leaves at different positions along the shoot, was also similar between the two light conditions. The major difference between sun-exposed and shaded leaves was a lower abundance of Lhcb2*Pp1 RNA in mature, shaded leaves compared with sun-exposed leaves. Although the number of fruit per shoot was significantly lower on shaded shoots than on sun-exposed shoots, the rate of fruit drop was not substantially different during the growing season, indicating that quantitative differences in leaf initiation and growth caused by differences in light exposure did not adversely affect fruit retention. However, based on comparison with a previous study of leaf development in non-fruiting trees, reproductive development slowed the rate of vegetative growth without affecting the overall pattern of leaf development along the shoots.     

Variations in leaf functional traits among plant species grouped by growth and leaf types in Zhenjiang,China

Leaf functional traits are adaptations that enable plants to live under various environmental conditions. This study aims to determine the differences in leaf functional traits among plants grouped by growth habit, leaf life span, leaf lifestyle, leaf form, and origin. Specific leaf area (SLA) of perennial or evergreen species was lower than that of annual or deciduous species because longer-lived leaves of perennial or evergreen species require more investment in structural integrity and/or defense against disturbances, especially with any resource constraint. SLA of large individuals was lower than that of small individuals. The low SLA in large individuals can improve their response to changing light and water conditions because increasing plant height is advantageous for light competition, but it can also impose a cost in terms of structural support and water transport. Petioles of plants with compound leaves were significantly longer than those of simple leaves because branching is expensive in terms of gaining height. SLA of plants increased with increasing invasiveness accordingly, and SLA of invasive plants was higher than that of their native congeners because invasive plants should invest more biomass on leaf growth rather than leaf structures per unit area to achieve a higher growth rate. Overall, variation in leaf functional traits among different groups may play an adaptive role in the successful survival of plants under diverse environments because leaf functional traits can lead to pronounced effects on leaf function, especially the acquisition and use of light. Plant species with different growth and leaf traits balance resource acquisition and leaf construction to minimize trade-offs and achieve fitness advantages in their natural habitat.     

Elevated CO2 concentration, fertilization and their interaction: growth stimulation in a short-rotation poplar coppice (EUROFACE)

We investigated the individual and combined effects of elevated CO2 concentration and fertilization on aboveground growth of three poplar species (Populus alba L. Clone 2AS-11, P. nigra L. Clone Jean Pourtet and P. x euramericana Clone I-214) growing in a short-rotation coppice culture for two growing seasons after coppicing. Free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) stimulated the number of shoots per stool, leaf area index measured with a fish-eye-type plant canopy analyzer (LAIoptical), and annual leaf production, but did not affect dominant shoot height or canopy productivity index. Comparison of LAIoptical with LAI estimates from litter collections and from allometric relationships showed considerable differences. The increase in biomass in response to FACE was caused by an initial stimulation of absolute and relative growth rates, which disappeared after the first growing season following coppicing. An ontogenetic decline in growth in the FACE treatment, together with strong competition inside the dense plantation, may have caused this decrease. Fertilization did not influence aboveground growth, although some FACE responses were more pronounced in fertilized trees. A species effect was observed for most parameters.     

Leaf growth, photosynthesis and tissue water relations of greenhouse-grown Eucalyptus marginata seedlings in response to water deficits

Leaf growth, rate of leaf photosynthesis and tissue water relations of shoots of Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm. (jarrah) seedlings were studied during a soil drying and rewatering cycle in a greenhouse experiment. Rates of leaf growth and photosynthesis were sensitive to water deficits. The rate of leaf growth decreased linearly with predawn leaf water potential to reach zero at -1.5 MPa. Rate of leaf growth did not recover completely within the first three days after rewatering. Midday photosynthetic rates declined to 40% of those of well-watered seedlings at a predawn leaf water potential of -1.0 MPa and reached zero at -2.2 MPa. Photosynthetic rate recovered rapidly following rewatering and almost fully recovered by the second day after rewatering. All tissue water relations parameters, except the bulk modulus of elasticity, changed significantly as the soil dried and recovered completely by the third day after rewatering. Changes in osmotic pressure at full turgor of 0.4 MPa indicated considerable capacity for osmotic adjustment. However, because there was little osmotic adjustment until predawn leaf water potential fell below -1.5 MPa, this capacity would not have enhanced seedling growth, although it may have increased seedling survival. The sensitivity of photosynthesis and relative water content to water deficits suggests that greenhouse-grown E. marginata seedlings behave like mesophytic plants, even though E. marginata seedlings naturally grow in a drought-prone environment.     

Shoot structure and growth along a vertical profile within a Populus-Tilia canopy

We investigated shoot growth patterns and their relationship to the canopy radiation environment and the distribution of leaf photosynthetic production in a 27-m-tall stand of light-demanding Populus tremula L. and shade-tolerant Tilia cordata Mill. The species formed two distinct layers in the leaf canopy and showed different responses in branch architecture to the canopy light gradient. In P. tremula, shoot bifurcation decreased rapidly with decreasing light, and leaf display allowed capture of multidirectional light. In contrast, leaf display in T. cordata was limited to efficient interception of unidirectional light, and shoot growth and branching pattern facilitated relatively rapid expansion into potentially unoccupied space even in the low light of the lower canopy. At the canopy level, T. cordata had higher photosynthetic light-use efficiency than P. tremula, whereas P. tremula had higher nitrogen-use efficiency than T. cordata. However, at the individual leaf level, both species had similar efficiencies under comparable light conditions. Production of new leaf area in the canopy followed the pattern of photosynthetic production. However, the species differed substantially in extension growth and space-filling strategy. Light-demanding P. tremula expanded into new space with a few long shoots, with shoot length strongly dependent on photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Production of new leaf area and extension growth were largely uncoupled in this species because short shoots, which do not contribute to extension growth, produced many new leaves. Thus, in P. tremula, the growth pattern was strongly directed toward the top of the canopy. In contrast, in shade-tolerant T. cordata, shoot growth was weakly related to PPFD and more was invested in long shoot growth on a leaf area basis compared with P. tremula. However, this extension growth was not directed and may serve as a passive means of avoiding self-shading. This study supports the hypothesis that, for a particular species, allocation patterns and crown architecture contribute as much to shade tolerance as leaf-level photosynthetic acclimation.     

Hydraulic function contributes to the variation in shoot morphology within the crown in Quercus crispula

Hydraulic and light environments have variation within the crown in well-grown trees. Shoot morphology and shoot hydraulics were compared between the upper and lower crown or among branching patterns in well-grown Quercus crispula Blume. Shoots in the upper crown had longer and thicker axes and lower water potential than did shoots in the lower crown. Hydraulic conductance from the soil to the shoot did not differ between the upper crown and the lower crown. Shoots in the upper crown are exposed to hydraulic stress, and shoots in the lower crown are under shade stress. Shoot morphology and shoot hydraulic traits (i.e., higher Huber value and higher hydraulic conductivity) in the upper crown affected the hydraulic conductance of shoots. Shoots in the lower crown showed larger light-receiving leaf area per leaf biomass investment, which is an adaptive morphology under shaded environments. Shoot morphology and shoot hydraulics were not correlated to branching pattern significantly, but shoots with higher branching intensity in the upper crown represented trends for higher hydraulic conductivity. These results reveal that shoot morphological and physiological characteristics in the upper crown reduce hydraulic stress, and those in the lower crown reduce shade stress. I conclude that vertical position within a crown affects both morphological and physiological acclimation for light acquisition and hydraulic conductance, and that hydraulic architecture is associated with crown architecture.     

Vigor-controlling rootstocks affect early shoot growth and leaf area development of kiwifruit

Patterns of shoot development and the production of different types of shoots were compared with scion leaf area index (LAI) to identify how eight clonal Actinidia rootstocks influence scion development. Rootstocks selected from seven Actinidia species (A. chrysantha Merri., A. deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson, A. eriantha Benth., A. hemsleyana Dunn, A. kolomikta (Maxim. et Rupr.) Maxim., A. kolomikta C.F. Liang and A. polygama (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim.) were grafted with the scion Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. chinensis 'Hort16A' (yellow kiwifruit). Based on an earlier architectural analysis of A. chinensis, axillary shoot types produced by the scion were classified as short, medium or long. Short and medium shoots produced a restricted number of preformed leaves before the shoot apex ceased growth and aborted, resulting in a 'terminated' shoot. The apex of long shoots continued growth and produced more nodes throughout the growing seasons. Mid-season LAI of the scion was related to the proportion of shoots that ceased growth early in the season. Scions on low-vigor rootstocks had 50% or less leaf area than scions on the most vigorous rootstocks and had a higher proportion of short and medium shoots. On low-vigor rootstocks, a higher proportion of short shoots was retained during pruning to form the parent structure of the following year. Short parent shoots produced a higher proportion of short daughter shoots than long parent shoots, thus reinforcing the effect of the low-vigor rootstocks. However, overall effects of rootstock on shoot development were consistent regardless of parent shoot type and nodal position within the parent shoot. Slower-growing shoots were more likely to terminate and scions on low-vigor rootstocks produced a higher proportion of slow-growing shoots. Shoot termination also occurred earlier on low-vigor rootstocks. The slower growth of terminating shoots was detectable from about 20 days after bud burst. Removal of a proportion of shoots at the end of bud burst increased the growth rate and decreased the frequency of termination of the remaining shoots on all rootstocks, indicating that the fate of a shoot was linked to competitive interactions among shoots during initial growth immediately after bud burst. Rootstock influenced the process of shoot termination independently of its effect on final leaf size. Scions on low-vigor rootstocks had a higher proportion of short shoots and short shoots on all rootstocks had smaller final leaf sizes at equivalent nodes than medium or long shoots. Only later in the development of long shoots was final leaf size directly related to rootstock, with smaller leaves on low-vigor rootstocks. Thus, the most important effect of these Actinidia rootstocks on scion development occurred during the initial period of shoot growth immediately after bud burst.     

Structural scaling of light interception efficiency in Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa

Sunlight interception efficiency was compared at the leaf, shoot, branch and crown levels for Picea engelmannii (Parry) and Abies lasiocarpa ((Hook.) Nutt.), dominant tree species of the central Rocky Mountains, USA. The ratio of silhouette to total leaf area (STAR) was used to quantify the efficiency of direct-beam sunlight interception at each structural scale. Total mean reductions in STAR from the leaf to the crown level were 0.39 to 0.06 in P. engelmannii and 0.46 to 0.02 in A. lasiocarpa. These reductions in STAR occurred for both species as structural scale increased due to a more upright leaf inclination, increased leaf twisting and curvature, or greater mutual shading among plant structures. A steeper leaf inclination between the leaf and shoot level accounted for 26 +/- 19% (95% C.I.) of the total leaf-to-crown STAR reduction; mutual shading among leaves on shoots caused a 14 +/- 7% reduction, whereas leaf curvature and twisting accounted for 22 +/- 3% for a total reduction of 62 +/- 8%. The STAR varied slightly from the shoot to the branch level (+/- 7%) except for a 26% reduction in shade shoots of A. lasiocarpa as a result of increased mutual shading among leaves at lateral nodes. Another substantial reduction in STAR occurred from the branch to the crown level (35 +/- 3% of total) as a result of shading of one branch layer by another within the crown. Thus, light interception efficiency decreased as structural scale increased in both species, especially from the leaf to the shoot level and from the branch to the crown level.     

Growth and carbohydrate status of coppice shoots of hybrid poplar following shoot pruning

Fifteen, 1-year-old Populus maximowiczii Henry x P. nigra L. 'MN9' trees were decapitated and allowed to sprout. After 8 weeks, all had 6 to 10 coppice shoots. All shoots, except the tallest (dominant) shoot, were removed from five of the trees (pruned treatment), and shoot growth, gas exchange and carbohydrate status were compared in the pruned and unpruned trees. Although photosynthetic rate of recently mature leaves of pruned trees was approximately 50% greater than that of leaves on the dominant shoot of unpruned trees, and the dry weight of leaves of pruned trees was 37% greater than that of the leaves on the dominant shoot of unpruned trees, the shoot dry matter relative growth rate did not differ between treatments. Concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates and starch in the uppper stem and leaves of the dominant shoot were similar in pruned and unpruned trees. However, relative to that of the dominant shoot in unpruned trees, the lower stem in pruned trees was depleted in both soluble carbohydrates and starch. Starch deposition, assessed as the quantity of (14)C-starch in tissues 24 h after a fully expanded source leaf was labeled with (14)CO(2), was 3.9 times greater in roots of pruned trees than in roots of unpruned trees. We conclude that early removal of all but the dominant shoot reduces the carbohydrate status of the roots and the lower portion of the stem by eliminating the excised shoots as a source of photosynthate.     

Relative importance of photosynthetic physiology and biomass allocation for tree seedling growth across a broad light gradient

Studies of tree seedling physiology and growth under field conditions provide information on the mechanisms underlying inter- and intraspecific differences in growth and survival at a critical period during forest regeneration. I compared photosynthetic physiology, growth and biomass allocation in seedlings of three shade-tolerant tree species, Virola koschynii Warb., Dipteryx panamensis (Pittier) Record & Mell and Brosimum alicastrum Swartz., growing across a light gradient created by a forest-pasture edge (0.5 to 67% diffuse transmittance (%T)). Most growth and physiological traits showed nonlinear responses to light availability, with the greatest changes occurring between 0.5 and 20 %T. Specific leaf area (SLA) and nitrogen per unit leaf mass (N mass) decreased, maximum assimilation per unit leaf area (A area) and area-based leaf N concentration (N area) increased, and maximum assimilation per unit leaf mass (A mass) did not change with increasing irradiance. Plastic responses in SLA were important determinants of leaf N and A area across the gradient. Species differed in magnitude and plasticity of growth; B. alicastrum had the lowest relative growth rates (RGR) and low plasticity. Its final biomass varied only 10-fold across the light gradient. In contrast, the final biomass of D. panamensis and V. koschynii varied by 100- and 50-fold, respectively, and both had higher RGR than B. alicastrum. As light availability increased, all species decreased biomass allocation to leaf tissue (mass and area) and showed a trade-off between allocation to leaf area at a given plant mass (LAR) and net gain in mass per unit leaf area (net assimilation rate, NAR). This trade-off largely reflected declines in SLA with increasing light. Finally, A area was correlated with NAR and both were major determinants of intraspecific variation in RGR. These data indicate the importance of plasticity in photosynthetic physiology and allocation for variation in tree seedling growth among habitats that vary in light availability.     

Explaining growth of individual trees: Light interception and efficiency of light use by Eucalyptus at four sites in Brazil

The growth of wood in trees and forests depends on the acquisition of resources (light, water, and nutrients), the efficiency of using resources for photosynthesis, and subsequent partitioning to woody tissues. Patterns of efficiency over time for individual trees, or between trees at one time, result from changes in rates photosynthesis and shifts in the relative partitioning to wood. We measured the production ecology (stem growth, light interception, and light use efficiency) to explain patterns of growth among trees within plots through stand development, and tested three hypotheses: (1) dominant trees have higher light use efficiency than subordinate trees; (2) lower variation in the size distribution of trees within plots allows higher light use efficiency; and (3) uniform stand structure and high light use efficiency reduce the age-related decline in tree growth. The experiment used clonal plantations of Eucalyptus at four locations in eastern Brazil. Irrigation and fertilization treatments ensured the major resource limitation for tree growth would be light supply. The influence of variation in the sizes of trees within plots was tested by comparing plots with all trees planted in a single day (uniform treatment) with plots where planting was spread over 80 days (heterogeneous treatment). Light interception per tree was simulated with the MAESTRA model. Across sites, treatments and whole-rotation stand development, dominant trees showed higher rates of stem growth, light interception, and light use efficiency than subordinate trees (supporting the first hypothesis). For example, dominant trees (80th percentile rank) at the end of the rotation grew four-times faster than suppressed trees (20th percentile rank), as a result of 2.1-fold greater light interception, and 1.8-fold greater stem growth per unit of light interception. In some cases, greater variation among tree sizes within plots led to lower efficiency of light use by average-size trees, providing mixed evidence for the second hypothesis. Greater uniformity of sizes of trees within plots did not substantially mitigate the decline in stem growth from mid-rotation to the end of the rotation, refuting the third hypothesis. The high efficiency of dominant trees underscores the marginal contribution of subordinate trees to total stand growth, and should spur further work on thinning to increase growth and lengthen rotations for dominant trees.     

Sap flow of three co-occurring Mediterranean woody species under varying atmospheric and soil water conditions

We studied the seasonal patterns of water use in three woody species co-occurring in a holm oak forest in northeastern Spain. The three species studied, Quercus ilex L., Phillyrea latifolia L. and Arbutus unedo L., constitute more than 99% of the total basal area of the forest. The study period included the dry seasons of 1999 and 2000. Water use was estimated with Granier-type sap flux sensors. Standard meteorological variables, soil water content and leaf water potentials were also monitored. All monitored individuals reduced leaf-related sap flow (Q(l)) during the summer, concurrent with an increase in soil moisture deficit (SMD). Despite similar maximum Q(l) between species, the decline in Q(l) with increasing SMD was species-dependent. The average reduction in Q(l) between early summer and the peak of the drought was 74% for A. unedo (n = 3), 58% for P. latifolia (n = 3) and 87% for Q. ilex (n = 1). The relationship between canopy stomatal conductance (G(s)) and vapor pressure deficit (D) changed during the course of the drought, with progressively lower G(s) for any given D. Summertime reductions of Q(l) and G(s) were associated with between-species differences in vulnerability to xylem embolism, and with the corresponding degree of native embolism (lowest in P. latifolia and highest in Q. ilex). Our results, combined with previous studies in the same area, outlined differences among the species studied in manner of responding to water shortage, with P. latifolia able to maintain water transport at much lower water potentials than the other two species. In an accompanying experiment, A. unedo responded to an experimental reduction in water availability by reducing Q(l) during the summer. This species also modified its water use between years according to the different seasonal patterns of precipitation. These results are discussed in relation to the possible impacts that climate change will have on Q. ilex-dominated forests.     

Influence of nutrient supply on shade-sun acclimation of Picea abies seedlings: effects on foliar morphology,photosynthetic performance and growth

Norway spruce seedlings (Picea abies Karst.) were grown in low light for one year, under conditions of adequate and limiting nutrition, then transferred to high light. Three months after transfer we measured photosynthesis, leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf chlorophyll concentration and leaf mass per area (LMA) of current-year and 1-year-old shoots; silhouette area ratio (SAR, the ratio of shoot silhouette area to projected needle area) was also measured in current-year shoots. At the foliage level, the effects of light and nutrient treatments differed markedly. Light availability during foliage expansion primarily affected LMA and SAR (morphological acclimation at the needle and shoot level, respectively). By contrast, nutrient supply in high light affected photosynthetic capacity per unit of leaf tissue (physiological acclimation at the cellular level) but did not affect LMA and SAR. The capacity for shade-sun acclimation in foliage formed before transfer to high light differed greatly from that of foliage formed following the transfer. The morphological inflexibility of mature needles (measured by LMA) limited their shade-sun acclimation potential. In contrast, at high nutrient supply, shoots that developed just after the change in photosynthetic photon flux density largely acclimated, both morphologically and physiologically, to the new light environment. The acclimation response of both current- and 1-year-old shoots was prevented by nutrient limitation. Analysis of growth at the whole-plant level largely confirmed the conclusions drawn at the shoot level. We conclude that nutrient shortage subsequent to the opening of a canopy gap may strongly limit the acclimation response of Norway spruce seedlings. Successful acclimation was largely related to the plant's ability to produce sun foliage and adjust whole-plant biomass allocation rapidly.     

Growth, nutrition and response to water stress of Pinus pinaster inoculated with ten dikaryotic strains of Pisolithus sp

Reconstituted dikaryons of Pisolithus sp. (Pers.) Coker & Couch from South Africa influenced growth parameters (shoot length, shoot/root ratio and leaf area), nutrition and physiological indicators (transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and xylem water potential) of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) seedlings during drought and recovery from drought. Seedlings colonized with certain dikaryons were more sensitive to water stress and showed less mycorrhiza formation under water stress than seedlings colonized with other dikaryons. Control (uninoculated) seedlings were significantly smaller than those inoculated with dikaryons. Transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and xylem water potential varied among mycorrhizal treatments during the water stress and recovery periods. After rewatering, the controls and seedlings inoculated with dikaryon 34 x 20 had a weaker recovery in transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and xylem water potential than the other treatments and appeared to have experienced damage due to the water stress. Concentrations of various elements differed in the shoots of Pinus pinaster colonized by the various dikaryons. It is suggested that breeding of ectomycorrhizal fungi could constitute a new tool for improving reforestation success in arid and semi-arid zones.     

Effects of soil moisture and light intensity on ecophysiological characteristics of Amorpha fruticosa seedlings

We investigated the combined effects of soil moisture and light intensity on the growth, development and ecophysiological characteristics of one-year old Amorpha fruticosa seedlings. Soil moisture and light intensity influenced the ecophysiological characteristics of Amorpha fruticosa seedlings. Soil moisture resulted in the decreases of growth rate, individual size, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, leaf water loss rate (WLR), and biomass accumulation of plant parts, and led to increased leaf water saturation deficit (WSD). Under water stress, more photosynthetic products were allocated to root growth. With decreasing light intensity, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, chla/b, water saturation deficit, water use efficiency, water loss rate and biomass accumulation declined, while Chla, Chlb, Chla+b and carotenoids (Car) increased and more photosynthetic products were allocated to stem and leaf growth. Maximum growth vigor, net photosynthetic rate and total biomass accumulation in Amorpha fruticosa seedlings was recorded at 75 80% soil water-holding capacity and 100% light density in greenhouse environments.     

Influence of controlled water supply on shoot and root development of young peach trees

Three controlled water supply treatments were applied to 1-year-old peach trees grown in root observation boxes. The treatments were: I(0), growth medium maintained at 50% field capacity; I(1), water supplied when daily net tree stem diameter change was negative or zero for 1 day; I(3) as for I(1) except that water was applied after net daily stem diameter change was negative or zero for 3 consecutive days. Trees in treatment I(0) had the greatest mean daily first-order shoot growth rates, and trees in treatment I(3) had the lowest shoot growth rates. Because leaf production rate (apparent plastochron) of first-order shoots was unaffected by treatment, differences in shoot length were due to differences in internode extension and not to the number of internodes. Trees in treatment I(0) had a greater number of second-order shoot axes than trees in treatment I(1) or I(3). Furthermore, an increase in the rate of growth of the first-order shoot axis was associated with an increased tendency for branching (i.e., the development of sylleptic second-order shoots). Increased leaf length was also associated with more frequent watering. Trees in treatment I(0) had the greatest root lengths and dry weights, and this was attributed to a greater number of first-and second-order (lateral) root axes compared with trees in the I(1) and I(3) treatments. The extension rate and apical diameter of first-order roots were reduced by the I(3) treatment. The density of second-order roots along primary root axes was not affected by any of the treatments.     

核桃砧穗生理状态对微枝嫁接成活的影响

核桃微枝嫁接是以子苗为砧木以无根试管苗为接穗进行无性繁殖的一项新技术。子苗及试管苗生理状态对嫁接成活影响很大。真叶展开之前子苗内源细胞分裂素,生长素,含水量,葡萄糖,果糖均处于较高水平;嫁接易于成活;真叶展开后,上述生理指标急剧下降,随之嫁接成活率也降低。     

国外混农林业系统中林木与农作物的相互关系研究进展

总结了近年国外混农林业系统中林木和农作物在地上和地下部分的相互作用关系的研究进展。其中林木根系分布与管理研究内容是通过对林木根系类型的筛选,选择与农作物根系矛盾较小的树种;水分关系研究中探讨了林木与农作物的水分矛盾;养分关系中主要说明林木枝叶对农作物的有利作用和它们对养分的竞争作用;他感作用研究指出某些树种的枝叶虽然有一定的毒性,但对农作物生长影响不大;地上部分的研究说明,林木对作物的遮荫作用是主要的,而作物对林木的影响是次要的。     

Altered light conditions following thinning affect xylem structure and potential hydraulic conductivity of Norway spruce shoots

Trees must respond to many environmental factors during their development, and light is one of the main stimuli regulating tree growth. Thinning of forest stands by selective tree removal is a common tool in forest management that increases light intensity. However, morphological and anatomical adaptations of individual shoots to the new environmental conditions created by thinning are still poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated shoot morphology (shoot length, needle number, projected leaf area) and anatomy (tracheid lumen area, tracheid number, tracheid dimensions, xylem area, potential hydraulic conductivity) in three Norway spruce (Picea abies/L./Karst.) families exposed to different thinning regimes. We compared shoot characteristics of upper-canopy (i.e. sun-exposed) and lower-canopy (i.e. shaded) current-year shoots in a control plot and a plot thinned to 50 % stand density the previous year. One tree per family was chosen in each treatment, and five shoots were taken per canopy position. We found that upper-canopy shoots in both plots had higher values than lower-canopy shoots for all studied parameters, except lumen roundness and tracheid frequency (i.e. tracheid number per xylem area). Thinning had little effect on shoot morphology and anatomy 1 year after thinning, except for small but significant changes in tracheid dimensions. Needles were more sensitive to altered light conditions, as projected leaf area of shoot, needle number and leaf hydraulic conductivity changed after thinning. Differences between upper- and lower-canopy shoots did not seem to be influenced by thinning and were almost the same in both plots. Our results suggest that lower-canopy shoots require several years to modify their morphology and anatomy to new light conditions following thinning. The slow light adaptation of the lower canopy may be of practical importance in forest management: thinned stands may be predisposed to drought stress because newly exposed shoots experience increased illumination and transpiration after thinning.