Ecophysiology and Survival of Acer pseudoplatanus L., Castanea sativa Miller. and Quercus frainetto Ten. Seedlings on a Reforestation Site in Northern Greece

Seedlings of three tree species (Acer pseudoplatanus L., Castanea sativa Miller. and Quercus frainetto Ten.) were planted on a field site in Northern Greece to investigate factors connected to planting failures. On several dates, for the first two growing seasons after planting (1997 and 1998), leaf water potential, chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange variables and seedling survival were determined. Q. frainetto seedlings exhibited the lowest values of leaf water potential (Ψ) for most of the season in both studied years. Seedlings of all species showed large reductions in Ψ the mid-summer in both years, with particularly low values in 1998. In both years, a sharp reduction in Ψ was observed at the beginning of July when all three species exhibited their lowest net CO₂ assimilation (A) rate by the end of July. In 1997, A recovered after the July depression to values even higher than those recorded in June. However, in 1998, only Q. frainetto and to a lesser degree C. sativa recovered from a similar July depression in physiological values. Species reached their highest A rates by the end of August in 1997 and in June during 1998. In general, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates paralleled the A patterns. In 1997, the seasonal course of effective quantum yield (ΔF/F_m), for all plant species followed a rise-and-fall pattern with a peak at the beginning of July. In 1998, ΔF/F_m values were relatively high in June, showed a deep depression during July and while Q. frainetto and C. sativa recovered afterwards, A. pseudoplatanus continued to exhibit very low values. This study showed that differences in mortality between species were due to differences in tolerance to water stress and the superiority of Q. frainetto was probably related to the fact that it was the only species native and adapted to the planting site