Summary
Published in Annals of Forest Science 68(8): 1303-1313. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0138-3
Context Root growth is a characteristic to which nursery personnel is particularly attentive. The increase in root growth of white spruce seedlings in the autumn relies on the current season’s photosynthates. Needle hardening or a decrease in the mass of photosynthetically active foliage as a result of early frost may negatively affect the seedling’s photosynthetic capacity and its ability to fuel root growth.
Aims This study evaluated the relationship between cold hardiness, root growth potential, and photosynthesis of 2-year-old white spruce seedlings.
Methods At the end of their second growing season under standard cultural practices in a forest nursery, seedlings were hardened under natural conditions of photoperiod and temperature. After being subjected to artificial freezing tests on four sampling dates during the fall, the seedlings were compared for cold tolerance and recovery of gas exchange.
Results The effect of artificial freezing treatments on seedling photosynthesis varied with frost intensity and degree of needle hardening. The mass of new roots formed over a 21-day cultivation test period following the freeze tests was positively related to the photosynthetic capacity of the seedlings and negatively related to the proportion of damaged needles.
Conclusion These results imply that autumnal cold damage to needles directly affects seedling root growth and emphasize the importance of maintaining seedlings in an environment favorable for photosynthesis during the fall to promote root growth.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Seeds and Forest Seedlings Production
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
CARLES, Sylvie, Mohammed S. LAMHAMEDI, Debbie C. STOWE, Pierre Y. BERNIER, Linda VEILLEUX and Hank A. MARGOLIS
Year of publication :
2011
Format :
Paper
How to get the publication :
ISSN
1286-4560
Keywords :
gel, endurcissement, croissance des racines, photosynthèse, épinette blanche, production de plants, Picea glauca, article scientifique de recherche forestière, production de semences et de plants, seeds and forest seedlings production, cold damage, hardening, root growth, photosynthesis, white spruce
