Frost resistance and frost damage in pinus sylvestris seedlings during shoot elongation

No differences were found in the frost resistance of the different‐aged (2–7 weeks) germlings of Scots pine. The critical temperature was ‐6°C to —3°C. A temperature of ‐4°C killed half of the germlings and produced damage in one fifth of the surviving seedlings; the needles turned brown and growth ceased. The frost resistance of the previous year's shoots of two‐year‐old seedlings, measured by the impedance method, decreased during the shoot elongation period from — 10°C to — 4°C. Damage to the current shoots during shoot elongation appeared as deformation and discolouration of the needles and abnormal development or death of the apical bud. The results indicate that frost is not the cause of growth disturbances observed in Finnish nurseries.     

Timing of cold temperature exposure affects root and shoot frost hardiness of Picea Mariana container seedlings

Seventeen‐week‐old black spruce seedlings were hardened under short daylengths and one of three short day length environments, which were either warm (24/16°C, day/night) throughout a 10 week hardening period (WW), cool (10/5°C) throughout hardening (CC), or warm for three weeks followed by seven weeks of cool temperatures (WC). Greatest root and shoot frost hardiness resulted from the exposure of seedlings to three weeks of warm followed by seven weeks of cool temperatures. Seedlings receiving warm temperatures throughout hardening increased in root and shoot frost hardiness, but to a lesser extent than seedlings exposed to cool temperatures. The frost hardiness of woody roots was generally greater than that of fine roots, but the extent of the difference in frost hardiness depended on the time since bud initiation and on the hardening treatment.     

Growth and thinning effects during a rotation period of hybrid aspen in southern Sweden

Hybrid aspen is an interesting tree species for wood production in northern Europe. In this study we examined growth dynamics over the whole rotation period. Height and diameter development, as well as annual growth of stem volume and stem biomass, were repeatedly recorded in 14 planted and 2 root sucker stands, aged up to 26 years, in southern Sweden. A main aim was to study the productivity level for hybrid aspen forestry with an expected rotation period of about 25 years. The study verified earlier prognoses, showing a mean annual increment (MAI) of 19.5 m³ of stem wood ha^?1 yr^?1 after 25 years. This corresponds to a dry weight of stem biomass of 7.2 tons dry matter (DM) ha^?1 yr^?1. Maximum MAI was still not reached after 25 years, although the growth curve was flattening out. If branch biomass is included, MAI is estimated to about 9 tons DM ha^?1 yr^?1 and further improvements in growth is expected by using the best genotypically selected clones available. Results from three different thinning regimens showed that thinning intensity provided significantly larger diameter growth, while no significant yield effects were seen among the thinning regimens.     

Relationship between parameters of electrical impedance spectroscopy and frost hardiness in stems and needles of Pinus bungeana

We studied the frost hardiness (FH) in stems and needles of different Pinus bungeana provenances during frost hardening by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and conventional electrolytic leakage (EL) and compared the regression equations of the two methods in order to optimize the EIS method for studying FH on plants. During frost hardening, EIS and EL were applied to one-year old stems and needles of P. bungeana in an 8-year provenance field trial at the Thirteen Tombs Nursery in Beijing within the provenances of Mangshan of Beijing, Liangdang of Gansu and Xiaoyi of Shanxi provinces, China. A double-DCE model and Model-A were used, respectively, for the EIS analysis of stems and needles that were not exposed to a controlled freezing treatment. After controlled freezing tests, the FH of stems and needles were assessed by EIS and EL. Without controlled freezing tests, the relaxation time (τ ₁) of stems and the specific intracellular resistance (r _i) of stems and needles displayed a statistically significant correlation with FH (R ² = 0.79–0.86); after controlled freezing tests, specific extracellular resistance (r _e) of the stems and needles, the cell membrane time constant (τ _m) of needles displayed an even higher correlation with FH (R ² = 0.92–0.94). There were significant relationship between EIS and EL in assessing the FH of stems and needles of P. bungeana, but EIS underestimated FH more than EL did. EIS is one of the more promising methods for assessing FH, especially without employing a controlled freezing test. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2008, 44(4): 28–34 [译自:林业 科学]     

Frost hardiness of nutrient-loaded two-year-old <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis> seedlings in autumn and at the end of freezer storage

The effects of nutrient loading (NLOAD) on the frost hardening and dehardening of Picea abies (L.) Karst. seedlings were investigated under nursery conditions. Before NLOAD, second-year container seedlings were either short-day (SD) treated for 3 weeks in July or left for the natural photoperiod (CO). By mid-September, after 5 weeks of NLOAD, the fertilization of three foliar nutrient concentration levels (low = L-SD, medium = M-SD, and high = H-SD) for the SD-treated seedlings and one (medium = M-CO) for the CO-seedlings was completed. The NLOAD resulted in foliar nitrogen concentration 10.6, 16.1, 22.3, and 17.5 g kg⁻¹ for L-SD, M-SD, H-SD and M-CO seedlings, respectively. The NLOAD had no effects on the morphology or dry mass variables of the seedlings, while SD-treatment reduced the dry mass of shoots, but not that of roots. The frost hardiness (FH) of different batches of the seedlings was assessed by the visual scoring of damage in their needles, stems and buds after their controlled exposure to freezing during frost hardening and dehardening. The low nutrient concentration in the SD-treated seedlings (L-SD seedlings) resulted in poor FH, to an even lower extent than that of the M-CO seedlings. The NLOAD did not affect the dehardening of the seedlings at the end of the freezer storage in the following spring.     

林业苗圃地连作和轮作对苗木生长及土壤肥力影响的研究

研究了林业圃地连作与轮作培育杉木、酸枣、厚朴等苗木的生长状况及土壤肥力的变化。结果表明:用水稻等作物与杉木轮作后,杉木苗生长状况改善,土壤有效养分和速效养分增加。     

Initial seedling morphological characteristics and field performance of two Sudanian savanna species in relation to nursery production period and watering regimes

It has become apparent that some interventions are required to aid the regeneration of woody species in the Sudanian savanna. Direct seeding has been ineffective, thus planting high quality seedlings may be a viable alternative. In this study, we examined the stock quality of two valuable Sudanian savanna species, Acacia macrostachya and Pterocarpus erinaceus. Different nursery production periods were tested as well as the species’ field performance under well-watered and stressed conditions. The results showed that older seedlings (9-month) were morphologically distinct from younger ones (3-month), particularly in the case of P. erinaceus. Eighteen months after planting out, survival and growth of seedlings were not affected by initial seedling size; this was the result of the high root to shoot ratio of seedlings in all age groups at the time of planting. Seedling mortality as high as 30% was observed and attributed to both drought stress and other factors such as herbivory. Regression analyses revealed that initial shoot height was a poor predictor of field performance for both species, but initial root collar diameter accounted for 25% of the variation in diameter of P. erinaceus in the field. We conclude that initial seedling size does not affect survival and growth in the field provided that all sizes of seedling have a high root to shoot ratio at the time of planting. The prediction of field performance could be improved by developing a model that incorporates a wide range of root collar diameter.     

Effects of length of seed chilling period and sowing date on family performance and genetic variances of Douglas-fir seedlings in the nursery

Seeds of four full-sibling Douglas-fir families (F) were moist chilled (C) for 14, 33, and 77 days and sown (S) March 29, April 26, and May 24 at two densities (D=111 and 200 seeds/m²), grown for 2 years in nursery beds and phenology and size traits recorded. The study was analyzed in two parts: part I evaluated seed treatment effects and their interactions with families; and part II investigated the effect of treatments on genetic variances, particularly among-family (_F ²) and within-plot ( ²) components and the intraclass correlation for families (t_{% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaGqaa0Gaa8NKba% aa!3886!\[f\]}). In part I there were large and highly significant differences associated with C and S and among F for all traits. Early S combined with long C resulted in early emergence and gave large seedlings with little loss and damage. Many interactions between C and F, and S and F, were significant. Interactions involved rank changes for size but not for phenology traits, and were larger for C×F than for S×F. Seedling density affected seedling size but not phenology, did not interact with seed treatments, and interacted significantly but weakly with families. In part II, C and S, but not D, had significant effects on _F ², ², and t_{% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaGqaa0Gaa8NKba% aa!3886!\[f\]}, but not in a predictable manner. Because of significant interactions, it is recommended that standardized seed treatments be used in family nursery tests. This should aid in keeping the results from these tests as repeatable as possible. Long chilling and sowing as early as practicable are recommended to minimize disease losses and winter damages and to provide good nursery stock.     

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.     

Effects of nutrient loading and fertilization at planting on growth and nutrient status of Lutz spruce (Picea x lutzii) seedlings during the first growing season in Iceland

The low availability of nitrogen (N) is believed to be one of the major limiting factors of forest regeneration in Iceland and frequently under Boreal conditions. Lutz spruce (Picea x lutzii Littl.) seedlings were nutrient loaded using four fertilization regimes in the end of nursery rotation in autumn 2008 and planted in the following spring, with or without a single dose of fertilizer, on two treeless sites in N-Iceland with contrasting soil fertility. Measurements were made after one growing season. The highest loading level without additional field fertilization increased new needle mass by 122% and 152%, for the poor and more fertile site, respectively. The highest loading level with field fertilization increased new needle mass equally, by 188% and 189%, for the poor and more fertile site, respectively. Retranslocation of N, from old needles to current needles, increased with more loading. However, it was clear that nutrient loading could not replace field fertilization, as the seedlings generally showed an additive response to field fertilization and nutrient loading; doing both always gave the best results in seedling performance. As the study only covers field establishment during the first year, the long-term effect of nutrient loading of Lutz spruce cannot be predicted. However, it was concluded that loading might provide an additional input for faster plantation establishment during the first growing season after planting.