| Abstract: | The influence of spruce needle wax on the degradation of the needles and the germination of alder seeds 1- and 3-year old needles of Picea abies, each untreated or with the wax layer removed, were burried in a field. Dry-weight of needles without wax decreased faster during an exposition period of 1 to 5 months. Because the wax proved to be a highly selective substrate for microbial colonisation, it retarded the needle degradation. Wax on 1-year old needles slowed degradation down during 2 months, wax on 3-year old needles during 5 months. Degradation time varied for different wax components. The site of wax decomposition was determined by analysing the lipids eluted from different soil layers (depth 0–30 cm) in a natural spruce forest. Lipids forming the wax decreased in depth 1–5 cm and were missing in depth 7–14 cm. Microorganisms isolated from 3 soil layers (depth 1–7 cm) were able to use fatty acids and fatty alcohols out of the wax as a carbon source. But only microorganisms from depth 7–14 cm degraded all wax components. Wax of 1-year old needles delayed seed germination (Alnus glutinosa) for 6 days. Wax of 3-year old needles delayed and inhibited germination for at least 12 days. Pure stearic acid did not influence germination. The different effects show the importance of the chemical wax composition rather than of the water repellent property. |
