Root growth potential and bud dormancy of three northern pines with emphasis on eastern white pine

A two year study examined Root Growth Potential (RGP) in a hydroponic system and Dormancy Release Index (DRI) in one-year-old (1-0) and two-year-old (2-0) eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings with emphasis on eastern white pine. During 1985-86 all three species of 2-0 stock displayed a similar pattern of RGP with high levels of RGP limited to mid-March. Only 2-0 eastern white pine had a statistically significant relationship between RGP and DRI; however, this relationship was not consistent in 1986-87. The RGP/DRI relationship in 2-0 eastern white pine was strong over both years within a DRI range of 0.22 to 1.00. One-year-old and 2-0 eastern white pine stock had very different patterns of RGP over both years with 1-0 stock maintaining much wider "lifting windows" for high RGP. Cold storage (2C) of 2-0 eastern white pine resulted in variable effects on RGP although it typically progressed dormancy release. There were no strong RGP trends between northern and southern provenances of 1-0 eastern white pine and heritability values indicate that RGP is under minimal genetic control in 1-0 eastern white pine seedlings. Northern and southern provenances did display clear differences in seedling morphology and seasonal patterns of shoot activity. Results of a field outplanting study show that RGP does show promise as a measure of 2-0 eastern white pine seedling quality. The predictive ability of RGP was increased on non-irrigated versus irrigated seedlings. A comparison of greenhouse versus growthroorn RGP testing demonstrated the validity of using greenhouse RGP testing of 2-0 eastern white pine.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Department dc:contributor.department

Forestry

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1985

Author dc:creator

• Johnsen, Kurt H.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/87644

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/87644