Water stress of Pinusponderosa in relation to foliage density of neighboring plants

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 1620-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry D. Petersen ◽  
Bruce D. Maxwell

The relationship of predawn needle water potential of ponderosa pine (Pinusponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) and the foliage density of neighboring plants was examined after experimental gradients of foliage were established on two sites in northwestern Montana. In late summer, soil water content linearly decreased in relation to the amount of foliage of herbs and shrubs. Predawn needle water potential of pine seedlings planted along the gradient ranged from −0.5 MPa when competitor foliage was near zero to less than −3.0 MPa when such foliage was more extensive. Even when neighboring plants had a small amount of transpiring foliage at this time of year, the pine seedlings had an increased level of water stress.

Author(s):  
H. Ramírez ◽  
A. I. Melendres- Alvarez ◽  
A. Zermeño- González ◽  
D. Jasso- Cantú ◽  
J. A. Villarreal- Quintanilla

Aims: The apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), is a drought-sensitive deciduous fruit. This concept arises from the fact that soil moisture stress can: Decrease the number and quality of flower buds differentiated; delay the time of flower differentiation and decrease the number of flower buds per shoot. The objectives of this investigation were to determine: The extent to which drought influences water status in the leaves; its effect on flower buds development and on bloom in apricot cv. “Royal”. Study Design: Trees were divided into 6 groups of six replicate each under a random block design. Results were analyzed using the statistical program 'RStudio' for Windows version 10 and data obtained subjected to a comparison of means with the Tukey (P≤0.05) test. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture in Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, Mexico, during 2018-2019. Methodology: Seven-year-old apricot trees growing in containers were subjected to a 4 to 5week period of water stress at different times during the growing season. Leaf water potential was periodically measured and flower bud development was followed from early differentiation up to full bloom. Results: Leaf water potential in water stressed trees was constantly low. Water stress early in the season induced a delay in bud development during late summer and fall. Water stress late in the season did not appreciably affect the rate of bud development. Full bloom was delayed when water stress was applied in late summer and fall. Water stress at flower bud initiation and differentiation, together with high temperatures, may have induced flowers with double pistils. Water stress from April through October did not induce flower drop. Conclusion: Soil water stress severely affect leaf water potential; delays flower bud development and may induce flowers with double pistils without flower drop.


1977 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce A. Buchanan ◽  
Michael F. Davault ◽  
James T. Fisher

Artificially shaded and unshaded containerized Pinusponderosa Laws, seedlings were planted in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico on July 29, 1975. Xylem pressure potential (Pstem) and relative water content (RWC) were measured four times per day from August 1 to 16, 1975. Shading had little effect on RWC but significantly increased Pstem; midafternoon (1530 hours, MDST) increase averaged 2 bars (1 bar = 105 Pa). During the study RWC ranged from 86 to 94% and Pstem ranged from −4 to −10 bars. At the end of September no mortality had occurred in either treatment.


1991 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Rose ◽  
John Gleason ◽  
Mary Atkinson ◽  
Tom Sabin

Abstract In probably one of the first studies of its kind, three different seed sources of 2 + 0 ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings were graded on the basis of three root-volume categories (< 4.5, 4.5-7, and > 7 cm³) and out-planted to determine differences in survival and growth over 1 and 2 growing seasons, examine the relationship of seedling field height to nursery root volume, total fresh weight, diameter, and height over the same period, and observe differences in nutrient uptake by seedlings among the three categories over 174 days in the field. Seedling survival was good over the two growing seasons. Seedlings graded to the largest root-volume category were significantly taller and grew significantly more than those in the two smaller categories over the 2 years. Nitrogen and potassium contents decreased over the growing season, those seedlings with larger root volumes showing the greatest decrease. The results suggest that root volume has potential as a useful criterion for grading seedlings. West. J. Appl. For. 6(1):11-15.


1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Pipas ◽  
Gary W. Witmer

Abstract A 2 yr study on the Rogue River and Mt. Hood National Forests in Oregon evaluated physical barriers for protection of Pinus ponderosa seedlings against damage by Thomomys talpoides. Seedlings protected with one of three weights of: (1) plastic mesh tubing (Vexar®) or (2) sandpapertubing (Durite®) were evaluated against control seedlings. On the Rogue River sites, Vexar® seedlings had the highest survival (62.6%), followed by the controls (59.1%), then Durite® seedlings (17.9%). Gophers were the primary cause of death for the Vexar® seedlings, versus desiccation for the Durite® seedlings. On the Mt. Hood sites, heavyweight Vexar® seedlings had the highest survival (35.4%), medium-weight Durite® seedlings the lowest (2.7%). Seedling mortality caused by gophers was highest for controls (70.2%), followed by light-weight (62.2%) and heavy-weight (53.9%) Vexar® treatments. Overall survival was low (Rogue River = 42%, Mt. Hood = 19.8%). Growth was greatest for the control seedlings but only significantly greater than growth of Durite® seedlings on the Rogue River sites. Growth of seedlings was not compromised by the Vexar® tubing. Although neither type of tubing was highly protective, Vexar® tubes performed better than Durite® tubes. West. J. Appl. For. 14(3):164-168.


1996 ◽  
Vol 51 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 200-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloysius Wild ◽  
Peter Sabel ◽  
Lucia Wild-Peters ◽  
Ursula Schmieden

Abstract The investigations presented here focus on the CO2/H2O gas exchange in damaged and undamaged spruce trees while using open-air measurements as well as measurements under defined conditions in the laboratory. The studies were performed at two different sites in the Hunsrück and the Westerwald mountains. In the laboratory the CO2/H2O gas exchange was measured on detached branches under controlled conditions in the course of two years. CO2 saturation curves were also generated. In addition CO2 compensation points were deter­ mined employing a closed system. In the natural habitat diurnal course measurements of photosynthesis and transpiration as well as light-saturation curves for photosynthesis were performed. In parallel with the photosynthesis and transpiration measurements, measurements of the water potential were taken at both locations. The photosynthetic capacity and transpiration rate show a typical annual course with pronounced maxima in spring and late summer and minima in summer and winter. The needles of the damaged trees exhibit higher transpiration rates and a distinct reduction in photosyn­ thesis than the needles of the undamaged trees during two seasons. The diurnal course measurements of net photosynthesis and transpiration show a maximum in photosynthesis and transpiration in the afternoon in May and September, but a characteristic midday depression in July. Photosynthesis was markedly lower and transpiration higher in the needles of the damaged trees. The damaged trees show a lower increase in the light and CO2 saturation curves and higher CO2 compensation points as compared to the undamaged trees. The water potential reaches much lower values during the course of the day in needles of the dam­ aged trees. The reduction of the photosynthetic rate on one hand and the increase in transpiration on the other hand result in an extreme lowering of the water use efficiency in photosynthesis. The damage to the thylakoid membranes and to the guard cells obviously results in a pro­ found disturbance of the physiological homeostasis of the needles and could thus lead to premature needle loss.


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