Field survival of containerized red and jack pine seedlings inoculated with mycelial slurries of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Red pine and jack pine seedlings growing in styroblocks were inoculated 8 wk after sowing with mycelium/agar slurries of 3 mycorrhizal fungi (Laccaria bicolor, Scleroderma citrinum, and an unidentified basidiomycete), and one suspected mycorrhizal fungus (Cantharellula umbonata). Seedlings inoculated with L. bicolor developed mycorrhizae earlier and in greater numbers than the other inoculation treatments, with red pine out-performing jack pine in both respects. At 34 wk following sowing, seedlings were outplanted on a cleared xeric site in Baraga Co., in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Seedlings inoculated with C. umbonata failed to form mycorrhizae and were not outplanted. Inoculation treatments did not affect shoot or root weight at outplanting. Red pine inoculated with L. bicolor averaged 21% and 19% greater survival compared with control seedlings after one and two years in the field, respectively. Other inoculation treatments failed to increase seedling survival for either tree species. Jack pine demonstrated higher overall survival than did red pine for both years in all corresponding inoculation treatments.     

Container seedlings outperform barefoot stock: Survival and growth after 10 years

Ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, and Douglas-fir seedlings were planted in container or bareroot form at three elevations in northern California. At the lowest elevation (762 m), container seedlings of ponderosa pine were significantly taller than bareroot seedlings at ages 4 and 10, and had breast-height diameters that were significantly larger than bareroot counterparts at age 10. Survival of Douglas-fir container seedlings was significantly greater than that of barefoot seedlings for all ages tested. At the mid-elevation site (1220 m), container seedlings of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir were significantly larger in breast-height diameter than bareroot seedlings at age 10. Douglas-fir container seedlings survived significantly better at all ages than barefoot seedlings. At the highest elevation (1662 m), seedling height and diameter did not differ significantly, but survival of container seedlings was significantly higher than barefoot seedlings for both pine species at all ages tested.     

Vegetative propagation of Aesculus indica through stem cuttings treated with plant growth regulators

Cuttage propagation of Aesculus indica was tested by treatments with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) @ 2000, 4000 (ppm), indolebutyric acid (IBA) @ 2000, 4000 (ppm) and naphthlcetic acid (NAA) @ 2000, 4000 (ppm) in dry formulation in the Forest Nursery, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Shalimar. The cuttings treated with IBA @ 4000 ppm and IBA @ 2000 ppm had a sprouting rate of 75% and 50%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of control and other treatments. The highest rooting rate (50%) was recorded in the cuttings with the application of IBA @ 4000 ppm. The cuttings treated with IBA @ 2000 ppm had 25% rooting rate. All other treatments along with control (talc powder) failed to induce rooting. It was concluded that IBA @ 4000 ppm was a better-applied concentration for vegetative propagation of A. indica under Kashmir conditions. Biography: Mumtaz Majeed (1980– ), male, post graduate in Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology, Shalimar, Srinagar - 191 121, J&K, India.     

Root wrenching and lifting date of slash pine: Effects on morphology,survival, and growth

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) seedlings were subjected to three wrenching treatments: One root wrenching in early August; Three root wrenchings in early August, September, and October; and No wrenchings. Seedlings were then lifted on five dates between November and February based on the number of chilling hours accumulated. All wrenched seedlings had reduced shoot dry weight, smaller shoot-root ratio, and smaller stem diameter and height. These morphological differences translated into improved survival as well as increased diameter and height growth when measured one and two years after planting. Only seedlings wrenched three times demonstrated improved root fibrosity. Furthermore, only multiple wrenched stock showed greater resistance to drying imposed prior to planting. At the time of lifting, seedlings lifted latest had greater stem diameter, increased root dry weight and number of root tips, and improved shoot-root ratio. However, no survival differences were detected across lifts, and those seedlings lifted earliest demonstrated the best height and diameter growth.This paper is Journal Series No. R00695 of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.     

Morphological characteristics associated with tolerance to competition from herbaceous vegetation for seedlings of jack pine,black spruce,and white pine

Tolerance of bareroot and container-grown seedlings of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) to competition from herbaceous vegetation was examined in the first five years after planting on a site in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence forest of Ontario, Canada. Shoot and root morphological characteristics of various stocktypes were measured before planting and correlated with 5-year survival and growth following control and no control of herbaceous vegetation. For black spruce and jack pine, medium-sized bareroot stocktypes had greater relative 5-year stem volume growth in the presence of herbaceous vegetation than did container stock of either species or large bareroot stock of spruce. Relative volume growth was measured as the ratio of the cumulative stem volume increment in the presence of vegetation (Veg) to that in the absence of vegetation (NoVeg), i.e., the Veg:NoVeg ratio. In white pine, the Veg:NoVeg ratio of volume increment of medium container and large bareroot stocktypes exceeded that of small container and medium bareroot stocktypes. In jack pine, root collar diameter at planting and number of first-order lateral roots were positively correlated with 5-year Veg:NoVeg ratio of volume increment. In white pine, the Veg:NoVeg ratio was also positively correlated with root collar diameter at planting and with root volume. In black spruce, the ratio was not related to pre-plant morphology. Thus, for white pine and jack pine, certain pre-plant morphological features may be useful in forecasting the relative ability of different stocktypes to grow under herbaceous competition conditions in the field.     

Growth and water potential of j-rooted loblolly and eastern white pine seedlings over three growing seasons

The effects of j-rooting on water stress and growth of loblolly (Pious taeda L.) and eastern white pine (Pious strobus L.) were examined over three growing seasons in the field. Seedlings were planted in an area with severe herbaceous competition with either their roots planted straight or bent into a j shape. All seedlings were planted with their root collars placed at the soil surface. During the first year j-rooted seedlings consistently had lower water potentials but never statistically significant. Since both treatments were planted with the root collar at the soil surface, this trend was likely due to an initial shallower root system in j-rooted seedlings. In year three no differences in water potential were significant and no trends were evident. Growth did not differ significantly by treatment at any time but, by year three, j-rooted plants were consistently larger for both species.     

Nutrient element contents of cutting seedlings of hybrid species （ Liriodendron chinense x tulipifera）

The cutting seedlings ofLiriodendron chinense xtulipifera were treated with the different concentrations of auxin (treatment₁: IBA of 50 g·kg⁻¹+NAA of 300 g·kg⁻¹; treatment₂; IBA of 100 g·kg⁻¹+NAA of 300 g·kg⁻¹). The biomass nutrient element contents for different organs (root, stem, leaf) of cutting seedling ofLiriodendron chinense xtulipifera were measured by the dry method, Kjeldahl method and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy method. The result showed that the biomass of root, stem, and leaf of the cutting seedling treated with auxin was all remarkably increased. The contents of element C in root, stem and leaf had no significant difference between the control and auxin treatments, while the contents of N, P, K and Ca in stem were much lower than that in leaf and root. Variance analysis showed that for the same organ with different concentration treatment of auxin, the four nutrient elements (N, P, K, and Ca) had no significant difference in contents, while there existed significant or very significant difference in contents of the four nutrient elements in different organs with the same concentration auxin treatment. The N, P, K and Ca contents were very low in cutting seedlings; as a result, additional fertilizer should be applied to the seedlings when they were planted in the field. Foundation item: This paper was supported by Jiangsu Province Science Foundation (BE96350). Biography: ZHANG Xiao-ping, (1972-), female, Ph. Doctor in Nanjing Forestry University. Nanjing 210037, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

植物生长调节剂对藤稔葡萄促根的影响

用吲哚丁酸、萘乙酸、2．4-D3种植物生长调节剂对藤稔葡萄插条处理试验结果表明．不同激素、不同含量的激素对藤稔葡萄插条根系的影响有明显的差异。150mg／L的萘乙酸和50mg／L、100mg／L的吲哚丁酸处理催根效果较好,插条生根率分别为75％、69％和71％。     

Initial moisture stress,budbreak and two-year field performance of three morphological grades of slash pine seedlings

This study examined the relationship between root collar diameter, plant moisture stress and budbreak in three morphological grades of bareroot 1+0 slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) nursery seedlings and assessed the role of these parameters in predicting field performance potential under operational conditions. Two months after outplanting seedlings with small (3.2 mm) diameters exhibited greater signs of moisture stress than those with the largest (4.7 mm) diameters, as determined by lower xylem pressure potential values. Intermediate and large-sized seedlings (diameter >3.2 mm) showed earlier budbreak than smaller seedlings with more rapid shoot elongation after planting and had significantly greater survival rates for two years after planting on both a moist flatwoods and a dry sandhill planting site. However, after two years on the more favorable moist site, height and diameter measurements of seedlings with significantly smaller diameters initially did not differ from those of intermediate sized seedlings (diameter >3.2 and <4.7 mm). Large seedlings had greater second-year leader and diameter increments and attained greater total height and diameter after two years on both sites. Decreasing the proportion of smaller seedlings included in the field performance analyses increased overall mean plantation survival while increasing the proportion of large seedlings increased mean two-year total height and diameter as well as annual growth increments.     

Site preparation: Water relations and growth of newly planted jack pine and white spruce

Bareroot jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) were planted near Elliot Lake, Ontario, on a boreal reforestation site. Site preparation treatments were mixed, mineral and undisturbed (i.e., control) soil. Seedling water relations and growth were examined during the first field season. During the first 28 days after planting, jack pine base (i.e., predawn) and minimum xylem water potential readings were more negative in the control site preparation treatment. White spruce, during the first 10 days, in all site preparation treatments had base and minimum xylem water potential readings more negative than –1.7 MPa. By day 28 base xylem water potentials of white spruce had increased to approximately –1.0 MPa in all site preparation treatments. As the growing season progressed, white spruce minimum xylem water potential readings ceased exceeding the measured turgor loss point first in the mixed followed by the mineral and then control site preparation treatment. Jack pine minimum xylem water potential readings, in all site preparation treatments, almost never exceeded the measured turgor loss point. Water stress and stomatal optimization integrals, day 28 and 125, for both species showed least water stress and greater stomatal optimization in the mixed, mineral and control site preparation treatments, respectively. Both species had less new root growth in the field during the first 28 days after planting compared to seedlings grown for 28 days in a greenhouse for root growth capacity testing. Root growth at 28 days and both shoot and root development at the end of the growing season, were greatest to least in mixed, mineral, and control site preparation treatments, respectively.     

杂种鹅掌楸扦插苗营养元素含量的分布

本文利用不同浓度的外源激素处理杂种鹅掌楸的扦插繁殖幼苗,并通过烘干法、凯氏法、原子吸收等方法,对扦插繁殖幼苗的根、茎、叶3个器官生物量及其营养元素进行测定。结果表明:不同浓度的外源激素(处理1:IBA50gkg-1+NAA300gkg-1;处理2:IBA50gkg-1+NAA300gkg-1)处理插穗后,根、茎、叶的生物量均有一定程度的提高。在所有的扦插苗中,其根、茎、叶内的含C量差异不大,但茎内的N、P、K、Ca含量较根、叶的少。方差分析结果表明:不同浓度外源激素处理的同一器官后,其C/N及P、K、Ca的含量没有明显的差异;而同一浓度外源激素处理不同器官之间的4种营养元素的含量有显著或极显著的差异。并且扦插生根苗体内营养元素含量较低,在大田栽培时,应及时施肥补充营养,以提高幼苗生长适应能力。图1表4参12。     

Softwood cuttings for propagation of red alder

Tests were conducted to assess rootability of red alder softwood cuttings from shoots of young trees and epicormic sprouts of mature individuals. Ortets were 3 to 34 years old, and treatments with and without indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were compared. The extent of rooting and root vigor on the cuttings varied greatly among ortets and treatments. Among nonterminal cuttings, the best overall rooting success, with and without IBA, was obtained with cuttings of the youngest ortet. Average rooting of terminal and nonterminal cuttings of one clone were 100% and 64%, respectively. Although cuttings of some trees rooted well without IBA, the IBA treatment appeared to be generally beneficial. For all nonterminal cuttings of all clones, best results (80.0%/x) were obtained with a 10-sec dip in 2,000 or 4,000 ppm IBA. Vigorous planting stock was obtained from the rooted cuttings of all clones. Using epicormic sprouts from mature trees of proven performance will presumably allow propagation of superior trees and establishment of new plantations with improved stock.     

Effect of soil temperature on root and shoot growth and on budburst timing in conifer seedling transplants

Root growth in seedling transplants of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis(Dougl.) Forbes), noble fir (Abies procera Rehd.), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) and ponderosa pine (Pines ponderosa Doug. ex Laws.) began when soil temperature exceeded 5 °C. Root growth increased rapidly after 10 °C and attained maximum values at 20 °C. At 30 °C, no root growth occurred in the firs; in the pines, root growth was 30 to 39% of maximum. Maximum shoot growth also occurred at 20 °C. In ponderosa pine, height growth of seedlings from a high-elevation source was unaffected by cold soil, but in low-elevation seedlings it was reduced. Budburst in Douglas-fir and the pines was delayed up to 11 days by cold soil, whereas in silver fir and noble fir, it was only slightly delayed. Prior to new root growth in ponderosa pine, xylem pressure potentials and stomatal conductances during the afternoon indicated reduced stomatal opening at all soil temperatures, whereas 23 days later, stomata were open to a greater degree when temperatures exceeded 10 °C.     

Survival of southern pine seedlings after inoculations with Pythium and cold storage in the presence of peat moss

Cold storing bareroot pine (Pinus spp.) seedlings grown in the southern U.S. for as little as 1 week in a cooler (just above freezing) in the fall (November to mid‐December) has been shown to reduce seedling survival after outplanting. In contrast, survival of container‐grown seedling is typically not affected when stored for 4 weeks in coolers in November and December. Wounds sustained by seedlings as they are lifted from nursery beds may allow Pythium spp. to infect bareroot seedling roots. Once in the cool, moist storage environment, Pythium multiplies and may result in seedling mortality after outplanting. Bareroot loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and container‐grown loblolly, longleaf (Pinus palustris), slash (Pinus elliottii) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) seedlings were inoculated with either Pythium dimorphum or Pythium irregulare, cold stored with or without peat moss and monitored for survival after outplanting. Peat moss did not increase bareroot loblolly pine survival or reduce Pythium populations when seedlings were inoculated with Pythium prior to storage. Pythium irregulare reduced survival of longleaf and shortleaf pine grown in peat moss and perlite, respectively. Pythium did not affect loblolly or slash pine, but wounding their roots did reduce seedling survival when grown in containers.     

Physiological and morphological responses to nitrogen limitation in jack pine seedlings: potential implications for drought tolerance

The morphological and physiological responses to nitrogen (N) limitation in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings were studied following the initiation of four different dynamic N treatments for six and 15 weeks. The N treatments produced needle N concentrations from 11 to 31 mg g^-1dry weight, and seven-fold difference in dry weight at 15 weeks. Low-N jack pine seedlings: 1) had an higher root/shoot ratio; 2) extended their tap root more rapidly; 3) were better able to maintain turgor when shoot water potential declined; and 4) had a larger dry weight fraction and apoplasmic fraction than seedlings with higher foliar N concentrations. These responses may contribute collectively to enhance drought tolerance in N-limited plants, thereby affecting seedling quality. Modifying nursery fertilization regimes, other than optimal as usually applied, may thus be needed to produce stock for use on particularly droughty sites. Knowledge of the nature of drought at a particular site could be an important consideration when making decisions related to fertilization.     

Grass interference limits resource availability and reduces growth of juvenile red pine in the field

The effects of competing grasses on resource availability, growth and ecophysiological characteristics of 3-0 red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings were examined the first two years following outplanting in Anoka County, Minnesota, USA. Equal numbers of seedlings were planted into suppressed and undisturbed grass communities in a sandy soil. Grass suppression was maintained throughout the first growing season, but partially discontinued thereafter on the site. During the first field season interference from grass reduced pine seedling root collar diameter, needle length, number of new root tips, and lateral root length by over 40%. Mean pre-dawn needle water potential was 0.55 MPa lower in undisturbed grass plots during a brief drought in year one, but otherwise water stress was not significantly (p=0.05) influenced by grass interference. The presence of grass also reduced, up to 50%, the photosynthetically active radiation reaching the seedling canopy. At the end of year one, total biomass N, P, K, and Ca content were significantly (p=0.05) less in seedlings growing in the undisturbed grass community. Nitrogen was deficient in seedlings growing in grass. After two growing seasons, seedling shoot length (p=0.03), root collar diameter (p=0.001), and needle length (p=0.001) were significantly less (40, 54 and 20%, respectively) for seedlings growing in undisturbed grass. Seedling growth reductions induced by grass competition were associated with multiple environmental stressors in the field and not restricted to water stress as was observed in earlier studies with pine species at low and mid-latitude sites.     

Root and shoot allometry of bareroot and container Douglas-fir seedlings

Detailed root and shoot development of bareroot and container Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedling stocktypes were compared during the first growing season after outplanting. The study was installed in raised beds with ideal environmental conditions and at a field reforestation site. Survival at both sites was 98% and did not differ between stocktypes. Seedlings were excavated in spring (5, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after planting) and in fall (35, 40, and 45 weeks after planting). In spring, container seedlings had more numbers of new roots and greater new root and shoot biomass than bareroot seedlings at both sites. In fall, bareroot seedlings consistently averaged more new root growth (though nonsignificant) than container seedlings suggesting that stocktype differences may not continue long-term. Container seedlings had significantly greater water percent than bareroot seedlings at the field site (all sample dates) and the raised bed site (weeks 5, 8, and 40 only). Regardless of environmental conditions or season, seedlings at both sites maintained water percent between 60 and 70% of fresh weight. Seedlings grown in the raised beds had much greater growth than those grown in the field. However, relative growth patterns for the two stocktypes were very similar on each site. The data generated establish baseline differences between stocktypes for root initiation, growth, and allometry during the first year after planting. Challenges associated with root development research are discussed.     

Acceleration of Early Growth of Seedlings and Rooted Cuttings of Quercus robur L.

The normal delays in the production of useful planting materialin tree species such as Quercus robur from both seedlings andcuttings can be overcome by growing the plants at relativelyhigh temperature and in continuous light. Top growth could befurther accelerated by application of gibberellic acid (GA3)as foliar spray. There were, however, distinct differences inresponse between seedlings (with a high root: top dry matterratio, 4:1), and freshly rooted cuttings. The latter evincedonly onefifth the seedling response, but when cuttings attainedsimilar root:top ratios, their response reached that of seedlings. GA3 treatment accelerated top growth at the expense of rootgrowth, but a root dip for 4h in 100 ppm indole-3yl-butyricacid (IBA) given to 4-month-old cuttings restored root growthto normal even with GA3 treatment. During rooting, cutting commonlybecame dormant but this was prevented by foliar GA3 sprays.Growth was further and substantially improved by inclusion ofcytokinin in such sprays (benzylandenine purine, BAP). Furtherimprovements of growth were obtained by 5% sucrose suppliedto the foliage. In field experiments, assessing ‘establishment’of seedlings and cuttings, the latter established well but after550 days still had not attained the same root:shoot ratio asseedlings. GA3 (50 ppm) again greatly promoted shoot growth,while BAP increased branching and leaf number; when given togethermaximum leaf numbers and shoot dry weight were obtained, yetroot growth remained normal. Further addition of IBA raisedshoot growth still further, but other characters measured sufferedreductions. The potential use of these findings is discussed.     

Planting frozen conifer seedlings: Warming trends and effects on seedling performance

In temperate climates, conifer seedlings are often held in frozen storage (–2 °C) for extended periods and then placed in cool storage (+2 °C) so the root plug can thaw prior to outplanting. Two plug temperature treatments were used to test the hypothesis that thawing seedlings prior to outplanting may be unnecessary: seedlings were planted with frozen root plugs (frozen seedlings) and with thawed root plugs (thawed seedlings). The experiment was conducted under two watering regimes (irregular, regular) and with three conifer species (lodgepole pine [Pinus contorta var. latifolia], western larch [Larix occidentalis], interior spruce [Picea glauca × engelmannii]) to increase the generality of the results. The warming of root plugs after planting was examined. Thawed root plugs warmed to soil temperature rapidly (about 30 min) while frozen root plugs took longer (to 2 h) because ice in the plug had to melt before temperatures rose. Larger root plugs took longer to warm to soil temperature. Several aspects of seedling field performance were also assessed. For all species, variable fluorescence did not differ between frozen and thawed seedlings. Bud break was faster for thawed than frozen western larch seedlings but did not differ between frozen and thawed seedlings for either lodgepole pine or interior spruce. Height increment differed significantly between frozen and thawed seedlings that received the irregular watering regime; this effect was likely a response to the positioning of irrigation nozzles, which resulted in sporadic and non-uniform irrigation patterns. Height increment did not differ between frozen and thawed seedlings that received the regular watering regime. Root collar diameter and volume increments were not significantly affected by plug temperature treatment under either watering regime. Planting seedlings with frozen root plugs did not hinder field performance over one growing season under these watering regimes.     

Root diseases in bareroot and container nurseries of the Pacific Northwest: epidemiology, management, and effects on outplanting performance

In forest and conservation nurseries in the Pacific Northwest USA, seedling production can be limited by root diseases caused by fungi in the genera Fusarium Link:Fr., Cylindrocarpon Wollenw., Phytophthora de Barry, and Pythium Pringsh. Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and Pythium are the most ubiquitous, whereas incidence of Phytophthora is mostly associated with coastal bareroot nurseries. All of these root pathogens are encouraged by water saturated soils or media. Seedlings infected with Fusarium, Phytophthora, or Pythium often appear chlorotic or necrotic with extensive root decay. Cylindrocarpon often causes serious root decay without shoot symptoms. The best approach to mitigate losses from these diseases is to use a holistic integrated pest management program. This program should combine chemical controls with cultural practices, particularly those that increase soil permeability and drainage and reduce potential sources of inoculum, especially by disinfesting seeds and containers reused for crops. In general, we found that seedlings meeting nursery specifications for outplanting on forest soil (proper height, root collar diameter, healthy shoot color, lack of disease symptoms) but having these disease organisms on their root systems perform as well as non-infected seedlings.