Top pruning Douglas-fir seedlings: morphology, physiology, and field performance

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1371-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary L. Duryea ◽  
Steven K. Omi
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Cultural Practice ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Field Growth ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Full Effect ◽  
Terminal Buds ◽  
Multiple Leaders

Seedlings from nine Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seed sources were top pruned at six nurseries in the Pacific Northwest and then planted at field sites in their own seed zones and on one common site. Seedlings pruned tall (25 cm) and early in the growing season flushed again about 5 weeks after pruning and set bud 2 weeks later than unpruned controls. Nursery yield (number of shippable seedlings) was the same for tall–early pruned and control seedlings; however, pruning increased the number of seedlings with multiple leaders from 10 to 38%. Pruned seedlings were smaller than unpruned seedlings in height, stem diameter, bud length, and root and shoot weights at the time of field planting. First-year field survival and growth were the same for pruned and unpruned seedlings at all planting sites. Second-year field growth of pruned seedlings was generally greater than that of unpruned seedlings, and frequency of multiple leaders was reduced. However, pruned seedlings were still shorter than unpruned ones after 2 years. Field growth was greater when seedlings were pruned early rather than late (end of growing season) and tall rather than short (15 cm). Late–short pruning yielded shorter seedlings with smaller terminal buds and should be avoided. If pruning benefits nurseries by expediting grading, handling, and planting and, perhaps, enhancing growth later in the field, it should be continued as a cultural practice. However, longer-term measurements are needed for assessing the full effect of pruning on seedling growth.

Dehardening and budburst of Douglas-fir seedlings raised in three Pacific Northwest nurseries

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula K. Schuch ◽  
Mary L. Duryea ◽  
L. H. Fuchigami
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Constant Temperature ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stem Tissue ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Freezing Test ◽  
Terminal Buds

This study was undertaken to test whether nursery location affected dehardening and budburst of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings from two seed sources. The seedlings, raised at three nurseries in Oregon and Washington, were measured with a whole-plant freezing test in January, February, and March, 1986. In general, seedlings raised at the nursery at highest elevation, and in a few cases, trees from the most northerly nursery, were more frost resistant than trees from a coastal nursery. From January to March, seedlings from the highest (975 m) seed source had less-hardy stem tissue than seedlings from the coastal source (450 m). A growth-chamber experiment confirmed the outdoor dehardening studies. A constant temperature of +5 °C with a 16-h photoperiod maintained cold hardiness, whereas +10 and +15 °C with a 16-h photoperiod promoted rapid dehardening after 20 days. The nursery environment influenced budburst; trees raised in the coastal nursery burst bud significantly earlier than trees from the other two nurseries. Trees of different provenances from the same nursery burst terminal buds only 2 days apart.

Keepability of Pennsylvania versus West Coast Grown Douglas-Fir Christmas Trees: Genotypic Variation in Relation to Subfreezing Temperatures

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E. Kubiske ◽  
Marc D. Abrams ◽  
James C. Finley
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Genotypic Variation ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Display Area ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Needle Loss

Abstract Cut Douglas-fir Christmas trees grown in Pennsylvania from Rocky Mountain seed sources and coastal trees grown in the Pacific Northwest and shipped into Pennsylvania were compared for keepability. Following various cold treatments, the cut ends of trees were placed in water in an indoor display area. Coastal trees placed in a freezer at - 29°C for 24 h had 89 ± 5.1% (mean ± standard error) needle loss after one day of display, while Rocky Mountain origin trees exhibited only 3 ± 2.0% needle loss after 1 day and 50 ± 5.6% needle loss after 18 days. Coastal produced trees exposed to temperatures > - 12°C had 50 ± 9.8% needle loss at the end of the experiment, while Rocky Mountain trees ended with 22 ± 3.2% needle loss. Four additional treatments consisted of trees placed on an outdoor lot and periodically moved indoors to simulate Christmas tree market activity. Again, there was a significant difference between trees from coastal and Rocky Mountain sources, with 57.2 ± 4.3% and 11.8 ± 1.2% needle loss after 3 days, respectively. By the end of the 23 day experiment, the coastal trees were essentially devoid of needles, whereas Rocky Mountain trees had an average of only 20% needle loss. Coastal trees also exhibited a very noticeable loss of color and lustre. North. J. Appl. For. 7:86-89, June 1990.

Carbon and nitrogen allocation patterns of Douglas-fir seedlings fertilized with nitrogen in autumn. II. Field performance

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 903-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Margolis ◽  
R. H. Waring
Keyword(s):  
Free Amino ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Frost Damage ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Tree Roots ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Relative Growth Rates

October-fertilized and unfertilized 2-0 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were outplanted the following February. Half of each planting block was seeded with grass to induce water stress during the typical summer drought. Sucrose was applied to soil around each seedling to limit availability of nitrogen to tree roots. Fertilized seedlings broke bud 9–10 days earlier, produced more shoot growth, and, as shown in later harvests, had higher relative growth rates than unfertilized seedlings. However, initial differences in growth response were due primarily to the earlier budbreak. Seedlings growing with grass had predawn water potentials of −1.5 MPa by early August; by September 3, unfertilized seedlings growing with grass were significantly more stressed than any others. Although free amino acid and total nitrogen concentrations were higher in fertilized than unfertilized seedlings when planted, they became equal by the end of one growing season. However, fertilized seedlings contained more free amino acids and nitrogen because of their greater size. Grass competition affected both seedling nitrogen and carbohydrate chemistry. After one growing season, fertilized seedlings had greater height increment, shoot growth, leaf area, relative growth rate, and production per unit nitrogen. Although autumn fertilization benefited these Douglas-fir seedlings, negative effects could result from carbohydrate depletion because of increased respiration or from frost damage because of earlier budbreak.

Effects of prolonged cold storage on phenology and performance of Douglas-fir and noble fir 2 + 0 seedlings from high-elevation sources

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hsiung Tung ◽  
Luci Wisniewski ◽  
David R. DeYoe
Keyword(s):  
Cold Storage ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Diameter Increment ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Noble Fir

Survival, phenology, and growth performance of 2 + 0 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and noble fir (Abiesprocera Rehd.) seedlings planted at 1500 m in the Oregon Cascade Range were determined following a lifting on November 7 with 7 months of cold storage or lifting on March 1 with 3 months of cold storage. Storage temperature remained between 1 and 2 °C. There was no difference in Douglas-fir survival attributable to the lifting – cold-storage treatments during the first two growing seasons. The first-season survival of noble fir stored for 7 months was superior to that of those stored for 3 months, but no difference was evident after the second growing season. Timing of bud burst did not differ significantly among treatments for either species. However, the rate of bud burst was significantly greater for noble fir seedlings lifted in November and stored 7 months than for those lifted in March and stored 3 months. No difference in the rate of bud burst was observed between treatments for Douglas-fir. Shoot/root ratio for both species and treatments decreased significantly in the first growing season, but did not change significantly in the second growing season. Regardless of species, no differences were found in height growth or diameter increment between the two lifting – cold-storage treatments for the two consecutive growing seasons. The results suggest that Douglas-fir and noble fir seedlings originating from high-elevation seed sources can be lifted in fall and cold stored for 7 months without adverse effects on seedling performance.

scholarly journals The 1912 Douglas-Fir Heredity Study: Long-Term Effects of Climatic Transfer Distance on Growth and Survival

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bradley St. Clair ◽  
Glenn T Howe ◽  
Jennifer G Kling
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Near Term

Abstract The 1912 Douglas-Fir Heredity Study is one of the first studies undertaken by the US Forest Service, and one of the first forest genetics studies in North America. The study considers provenance variation of 120 parent trees from 13 seed sources planted at five test sites in the Pacific Northwest. The unique, long-term nature of the study makes it valuable to revisit and consider its biological and historical significance. This analysis considers how far climatically Douglas-fir populations may be moved without incurring unacceptable declines in growth and survival. Results indicate that Douglas-fir seed sources may be moved at least 2° C cooler or warmer and still retain good long-term survival and productivity. However, projected future climate change beyond 2° C may lead to lower survival and productivity. One option to address these concerns is assisted migration; however, if seed sources are moved beyond 2–3° C to a cooler climate in anticipation of warming, or from a more continental to a maritime climate, we are likely to see increased mortality and associated losses in productivity in the near-term. Lessons from this study include: (1) pay attention to good experimental design; we were able to overcome limitations from the design by using new statistical approaches; (2) maladaptation may take time to develop; poorer survival was not evident until more than two decades after planting; and (3) long-term studies may have value for addressing new, unforeseen issues in the future.

Frost hardiness as acquired by Douglas-fir seedlings in three Pacific Northwest nurseries

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula K. Schuch ◽  
Mary L. Duryea ◽  
L. H. Fuchigami
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Regression Equation ◽  
Frost Hardiness ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Over Time

Two-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings from two seed sources raised in three nurseries in Oregon and Washington were tested for differences in frost hardiness between September 1985 and January 1986. The objective was to determine whether nursery location significantly influenced hardiness. Seedlings were tested by whole-plant freezing to various temperatures, followed by six evaluations of frost hardiness of needle, bud, and stem tissues. Seedlings at the highest nursery had the hardiest needles and those at the coastal nursery the least hardy needles. Bud hardiness, calculated over time, differed between seed sources but not among nurseries. Stem acclimation followed the pattern of needle hardening from November to January. A regression equation calculated to predict frost hardiness from climatic data and elevation of the nurseries showed that elevation, photoperiod, and number of days of frost were the most important independent factors (R2 = 0.29).

scholarly journals Physiology and Growth of Containerized Coastal Douglas Fir Seedlings Given Different Durations of Short Days to Induce Dormancy

HortScience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-346
Author(s):  
Joanne E. MacDonald ◽  
John N. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
First Year ◽  
Root Dry Weight ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Terminal Buds ◽  
Short Days

We compared the effects of different durations of short days (SDs) as a dormancy-induction regime on bud development, bud endodormancy, and morphology of first-year containerized coastal douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii] seedlings in the nursery together with seedling survival and growth after one growing season in a common garden. In early July, four durations of 8-h SDs were applied: 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks. During the first week of SDs, budscale initiation started and was completed; then initiation of needles for next year's leading shoot (leader) began. Needle initiation was completed 10 weeks after the start of the regime in seedlings given 5 or 6 weeks of SDs and 13 weeks for those given 3 or 4 weeks of SDs. In early October, duration of SDs had no effect on bud endodormancy; 50% to 88% of terminal buds were endodormant. On this date, seedling height and shoot dry weight were unaffected by duration of SDs, whereas root dry weight and shoot diameter were significantly reduced in seedlings given 6 weeks of SDs compared with other durations. After one growing season, duration of SDs had no effect on seedling survival, leader length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, or shoot diameter. We recommend the 3-week duration of SDs for coastal douglas fir crops.

scholarly journals How geographic and climatic factors affect the adaptation of Douglas-fir provenances to the temperate continental climate zone in Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzena Niemczyk ◽  
Daniel J. Chmura ◽  
Jarosław Socha ◽  
Tomasz Wojda ◽  
Piotr Mroczek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Additional Advantage ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Seed Origin ◽  
Continental Climate

AbstractThe contribution of Douglas-fir (Df) to European forests is likely to increase as the species is a potential adaptation option to climate change. In this study, we investigated growth and survival of Df seed sources to fill a knowledge gap regarding recommendations for the future use of Df provenances in Poland. Our experimental test site represents the most continental climate among all Df trials installed in the IUFRO 1966–67 test series in Europe. At this unique single site, we evaluated the performance of 46 Df provenances from North America, and nine local landraces of unknown origin. Repeated measurements of tree diameter, height, and volume were analysed, to age 48, representing integrated responses to geographic and climatic conditions. Significant variation in survival and productivity-related traits were found, with the interior Df provenances performing best, in contrast to previous European reports. The higher survivability and volume of the interior provenances resulted from their superior frost resistance. The low precipitation seasonality at the location of seed origin provided an additional advantage to the trees at the test site. Geographic and climatic factors of seed origin explained most of the variation in productivity (77 and 64%, respectively). The tested landraces exhibited diverse performance, implying that naturalized local seed sources in Poland need improvement and perhaps enrichment with new genetic material from North America, while considering geography and climate. Assisted migration programs should consider the limitations imposed by both frost and drought events in guiding future Df selections for continental climates. Further field testing, early greenhouse screening and DNA testing are also recommended.

Invasive scotch broom alters soil chemical properties in Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA

2015 ◽  
Vol 398 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 281-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Slesak ◽  
Timothy B. Harrington ◽  
Anthony W. D’Amato
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Soil Chemical Properties ◽  
Scotch Broom ◽  
The Pacific
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