Freezing temperatures and exposure times during bud break and shoot elongation influence survival and growth of containerized black spruce (Piceamariana) seedlings

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1481-1489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine J. Bigras ◽  
Carole Hébert

Spring frosts frequently cause significant damage to conifer seedlings during bud flushing and shoot elongation in forestry nurseries. To insure adequate protection, levels of frost sensitivity must be known during these stages of development. Eight- or 9-month-old containerized black spruce seedlings (Piceamariana (Mill.) BSP) were submitted to freezing temperatures of 0° to −10 °C for 1–6 h at the following stages: (1) nonswollen terminal buds, (2) swollen terminal buds, (3) terminal bud scales bursting, needle tips emerging, and (4) shoots elongating, 1−5 cm. After freezing, seedlings were grown for 130 days in a greenhouse. Seedling survival was estimated; dead seedlings discarded; and damage to buds, needles, and roots as well as diameter and shoot increment were measured on the remaining seedlings. Frost sensitivity increased as buds flushed and new shoots elongated. Decreased seedling and bud survival was noted with increasing time of freezing exposure and decreasing temperature in stages 2, 3, and 4. Damage to needles and roots increases, while diameter decreases, with decreasing temperatures at all stages; however, shoot increment was influenced by decreasing temperatures only at stages 2 and 3.

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 849C-849
Author(s):  
Francine Bigras

Spring frosts frequently cause significant damage to conifer seedlings during bud flushing and shoot elongation in forestry nurseries. To ensure adequate protection, levels of frost sensitivity must be known during these stages of development. Eight-month-old, containerized, black spruce seedlings were submitted to freezing temperatures of 0, –4, –6, –8, and –10C for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h at the following stages: 1) nonswollen buds; 2) swollen buds; 3) bud scales bursting, needle tips emerging; and 4) shoot elongation, 1 to 5 cm. After the treatments, seedlings were grown for 90 days in a greenhouse. Seedling survival then was estimated; dead seedlings discarded; and damage to buds, needles, and roots and shoot increment and diameter were measured on the remaining seedlings. Results show that frost sensitivity increases with the developing bud and shoot. A decrease in seedling and bud survival was noted with an increase in time of exposure (stages 2, 3, 4); otherwise, time exposure has no effect. Damage to needles and roots increases and diameter decreases with decreasing temperatures at all stages. Shoot increment was influenced by decreasing temperatures at stages 2 and 3 only.


1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Craig Sutherland ◽  
Robert J. Day

Abstract This paper is the first general review of the affects of container volume on the survival and growth of containerized white spruce, black spruce, and jack pine seedlings. The review shows that the literature on this topic is fragmentary and inconsistent. Seedling growth in the greenhouse production phase has been more completely quantified than subsequent establishment and growth after out-planting in the field. In the greenhouse production phase, seedling growth increased from 72 to 360% when the container volume was tripled in size. After outplanting in the field, seedling growth trends were more variable. Seedling height growth increased from 34 to 84% when container volume was tripled in size. Seedling survival was more difficult to assess because of limited data. Only white spruce showed a 10% increase in survival with an increase in container volume. The indications from this literature review suggest that nursery managers and practicing foresters should become more aware of the limitations imposed on seedling survival and growth due to container volume. To maintain optional survival and growth for white spruce, black spruce and jack pine, the container volume should range from 90 to 120 cm3. North. J. Appl. For. 5:185-189, Sept. 1988.


1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-85
Author(s):  
Phillip E. Reynolds ◽  
Micheal J. Roden

Abstract Metsulfuron (ALLY or ESCORT), 36 and 72 g ai/ha (~ 0.5 and 1.0 oz ai/ac), and sulfometuron (OUST), 150, 300, and 450 g ai/ha (~ 2.1, 4.2, and 6.3 oz ai/ac), were applied to a northern New Brunswick clearcut (silty clay loam and silty clay soils) to reduce raspberry competition. Treatment, using skidder-mounted herbicide application equipment, occurred in May and August 1986, with planting of 2+2, bareroot, black spruce seedlings in June 1986 and in June 1987. Seedling survival and growth were measured yearly for 5 growing seasons after planting. By August 1991, raspberry cover was less in some treatments than in controls. Survival of seedlings planted 1 month after spring treatments was less than controls, and no significant stem volume increases were observed. Survival of seedlings planted approximately 1 yr after spring treatments was greater than that of control seedlings. Survival of seedlings planted after some summer treatments also was poor, and no significant stem volume increases were noted for seedlings planted after site preparation with sulfometuron. Optimal stem volume increases over control seedlings were observed for seedlings planted 1 yr after spring sulfometuron treatment. These increases occurred sooner than for seedlings planted 1 yr after spring metsulfuron treatment or after summer metsulfuron treatment. Fifth-year stem volume for these seedlings was correlated with raspberry cover (r² = 0.44), decreasing as raspberry cover increased. We conclude that the use of other less expensive silvicultural herbicides may provide equally effective raspberry control and better black spruce seedling survival and growth. North. J. Appl. For. 12(2):80-85.


1987 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Zasada ◽  
Rodney A. Norum ◽  
Christian E. Teutsch ◽  
Roseann Densmore

Seedlings of black spruce, aspen, green alder, and grayleaf willow planted on black spruce/feather moss sites in the boreal forest in interior Alaska survived and grew relatively well over a 6-year period after prescribed burning. Survival of black spruce was significantly greater than that of the broad-leaved species, but height growth was significantly less. Development of feltleaf willow and balsam poplar from unrooted cuttings was poor. Severity of burn appeared to have an important effect on height growth of all species but not on seedling survival. Key words: Planting, Picea, Alnus, Populus, Salix, microsite.


1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Owens ◽  
J. E. Webber ◽  
S. D. Ross ◽  
R. P. Pharis

The relative importance of cell division and cell elongation to shoot elongation and the anatomical changes in vegetative terminal apices were assessed for 9- and 10-year-old seedlings of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in response to two effective cone-induction treatments, gibberellin A4/7 (GA4/7) and root-pruning (RP). Root-pruning was done in mid-April at the start of vegetative bud swelling and GA treatments were begun at vegetative bud flushing in mid-May and continued until early July. Shoot elongation before flushing resulted primarily from cell divisions and was not affected by the RP treatment. Shoot elongation after flushing resulted primarily from cell expansion which was reduced by RP treatments. Root-pruning significantly slowed mitotic activity, apical growth, and development of vegetative terminal buds from mid-June through mid-July. Apical growth then resumed during leaf initiation and the final number of leaf primordia initiated was not affected. This resulted in a delay of 2 to 4 weeks in the transition from bud-scale to leaf initiation. Retarded terminal vegetative apices anatomically resembled latent axillary apices but were never completely inhibited. GA + RP had the same effect as RP. GA4/7 alone had no effect on shoot or apical development. These results show that RP and GA + RP significantly retard shoot elongation and terminal bud development but still allow normal development of vegetative terminal buds. Retardation of bud development by a few weeks shifts the critical morphogenetic phase of transition from bud scale to leaf initiation to a later time when endogenous and environmental conditions may differ from the normal.


1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. Hallgren ◽  
C. G. Tauer

Abstract Root growth potential (RGP), and first-year field survival and growth of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) seedlings were significantly affected by lift date, storage, and family. Seedlings lifted in December and January showed highest RGP, survival, and growth. Storage for 28 daysalways reduced survival and growth, and the effect was greatest for late-lifted seedlings. However, for late planting, the difference in performance between freshly lifted seedlings and earlier lifted and stored seedlings may be small. Large family differences existed for seasonal changesin RGP and survival, suggesting separate management by family may be beneficial. The presence of a terminal bud and secondary needles showed little value in predicting seedling performance, whereas RGP and number of primary lateral roots were strongly correlated with seedling survival. South.J. Appl. For. 13(4):163-169.


1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1390-1393
Author(s):  
V. J. Lieffers

Black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and tamarack (Larixlaricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) in a peatland in north central Alberta were examined twice weekly for terminal bud flush, length of leader, and cessation of leader elongation. Time of terminal bud flush of black spruce, which has determinate bud growth, was negatively correlated with the final length of leader. Differences in timing of flush of terminal buds of individual trees between 1984 and 1985 were negatively related to the ratio of leader length in 1984 to that in 1985. It is proposed that part of the variability in time of bud flush is related to the number of leaf primordia in the expanding bud. Buds with large numbers of leaf primordia flushed earlier than buds with few primordia. Time of terminal bud flush of tamarack, which has indeterminate bud growth, was poorly correlated with the final length of leader.


1995 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip E. Reynolds ◽  
Michael J. Roden

Liquid (VELPAR L) and dry-flowable (VELPAR ULW) hexazinone (2 kg ai ha−1) were aerially applied to a northern New Brunswick clearcut to reduce raspberry [Rubus idaeus L. var. strigosus (Michx.) Maxim] competition. Treatments were applied in June 1987; planting with containerized (multipot) black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] was conducted 2 and 14 months after treatment in August 1987 and 1988. Seedling survival and growth were measured yearly through August 1991. Hexazinone formulation did not affect raspberry control, seedling survival, or growth. Five growing seasons after treatment, raspberry cover was generally less in treated plots than in controls. Seedling survival did not differ among treatments for seedlings planted at either time interval after hexazinone treatment. Seedlings planted 14 months after hexazinone treatment grew poorly compared with those planted 2 months after herbicide treatment. Stem volume of seedlings planted 2 months after hexazinone treatment exceeded that of control seedlings in the first growing season after planting and remained greater than that of control seedlings through 1991. Stem volume increases over controls were restricted to the second growing season after planting for seedlings planted 14 months after hexazinone treatment. Fourth-year stem volume of seedlings planted 2 months after hexazinone treatment was correlated with raspberry cover (r2 = 0.34). As raspberry cover increased, black spruce growth decreased. Key words: liquid hexazinone, dry-flowable hexazinone, site preparation, black spruce, multipot stock, seedling survival, stem volume, raspberry cover


1995 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Roden ◽  
Phillip E. Reynolds

Granular (PRONONE 10G and 5G) and liquid (VELPAR L) hexazinone (1 to 4 kg ai ha−1) were applied to a northern New Brunswick clearcut (loams, silt loams, and clay loams) to reduce raspberry [Rubus idaeus L. var. strigosus (Michx.) Maxim] competition. Treatment, using skidder-mounted herbicide application equipment, was completed in May and September 1986, with planting of 2+2, bareroot, black spruce seedlings [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] in June 1986 and in June 1987. Seedling survival and growth were measured yearly for five growing seasons after planting. By August 1991, raspberry cover for three treatments remained less than that for controls. Survival of seedlings planted approximately one month after spring treatment was less than controls, but seedling height and stem diameter were greater than that of control seedlings for most treatments. Survival and growth of seedlings planted approximately one year after spring treatment or nine months after fall treatment were greater than that of control seedlings for most treatments. Fifth-year height and stem diameter of seedlings planted nine months after fall treatment were negatively correlated with raspberry height (r2 = 0.729, height and 0.745, diameter), decreasing as raspberry height increased. Over the five-year observation period, hexazinone formulation did not affect raspberry control, but did affect seedling survival and growth. Spring treatment with PRONONE 10G (2 kg ai ha−1), with planting delayed by one year, provided the best treatment to achieve both optimal seedling survival and growth during plantation establishment. Key words: liquid hexazinone, granular hexazinone, site preparation, black spruce, growth parameters, seedling survival, raspberry competition


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave M Morris ◽  
Rob W Mackereth ◽  
Dan R Duckert ◽  
Michael K Hoepting

Excessive rutting continues to be recorded in post-harvest compliance inspections in black spruce peatlands across Ontario. These qualitative, visual assessments, however, cannot provide the necessary data to determine a site disturbance threshold that is linked to poor regeneration and seedling growth. In an attempt to provide this quantitative link, harvested black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] peatland sites were surveyed and divided into severely rutted (non-compliant), moderately rutted, and non-rutted (compliant) blocks. In 1995, 2001, and 2006, each block was assessed for areal extent of rutting, number of plantable spots, moisture status, planting medium, competition level, stand density, species composition, and black spruce seedling survival and growth. Black spruce seedling survival in the severely-rutted block was significantly lower when compared with either the moderately rutted or the non-rutted blocks. A derived seedling survival model identified moisture class as having the largest influence on the probability of seedling survival. In terms of seedling growth, however, it was the non-rutted blocks that had the poorest performance. Based on a canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), competition factors, particularly ericaceous shrub cover, were the most important microsite factors influencing black spruce seedling growth. Overall, the moderately rutted block generated conditions that resulted in high conifer recruitment and good seedling survival and growth. Although the inference space of the study is small, the results suggest that black spruce peatland sites may benefit from a moderate level of site disturbance caused during harvest operations. Key words: Rutting severity, black spruce peatlands, survival, growth, microsite assessment


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