Kent G. Apostol

Growth, physiology, and nutrient retranslocation in nitrogen-15 fertilized Quercus rubra seedlings

We evaluated gas exchange, chlorophyll index (CI) using SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, and leaf nutritional responses in one-year-old northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) container seedlings transplanted into control (unfertilized) or fertilized (0.86 g N plant−1) sand culture and grown in a greenhouse for 90 days. We labeled current nitrogen (N) uptake with (15NH4)2SO4 and directly quantified proportional contributions of N derived from fertilizer (NF) compared with retranslocation or N derived from plant (NP) in leaf growth of red oak seedlings. NF met a greater N demand in leaf growth of fertilized plants while unfertilized seedlings relied entirely on NP for their leaf growth. Fertilization increased leaf dry mass by 67% and new stem dry mass by 253% 90 days after transplanting compared to control seedlings. Specific leaf area (SLA) was not significantly altered but CI increased 90 days after transplanting. Higher leaf N concentration and content in fertilized compared with control seedlings was linked to greater chlorophyll concentrations in the former plants. The higher coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.72) noted between leaf N concentrations and CI suggests that the SPAD meter could be a useful tool for assessing leaf N status in northern red oak seedlings. Fertilized seedlings exhibited higher net assimilation, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates compared with controls. Increased seedling growth in response to fertilization was related to maintenance of higher gas exchange and greater nutrient uptake, which could improve outplanting success.RésuméNous avons estimé les échanges gazeux foliaires, un index de teneurs en chlorophylles (IC) avec un chlorophylle-mètre SPAD-502 et les teneurs en nutriments dans les feuilles de jeunes plants de chêne rouge d’Amérique (Quercus rubra L.) âgés d’un an. Les plants ont été transplantés dans du substrat sableux non fertilisé (témoins) ou fertilisé avec 0.86 g N par plante, et cultivés pendant 90 jours sous serre. L’azote apporté par la fertilisation était marqué avec (15NH4)2SO4 et nous avons directement quantifié les contributions à la croissance foliaire de N apporté par la fertilisation (NF) par rapport à celle de N remobilisé depuis les pools de réserve de la plante (NP). NF constituait la fraction la plus importante d’azote foliaire de plants fertilisés, alors que l’azote foliaire des plants non fertilisés était exclusivement constitué de NP. La fertilisation s’est traduite par une augmentation, par rapport aux plantes témoins, de 67 % de la biomasse foliaire et de 253 % de la biomasse de tiges nouvellement formées 90 jours après la transplantation. La surface spécifique des feuilles n’était pas affectée par la fertilisation alors que CI avait significativement augmenté. Des teneurs plus élevées en N foliaire en comparaison des témoins, étaient donc liées à des concentrations plus fortes en chlorophylles. Le coefficient de détermination élevé (r2 = 0.72) des relations entre concentration de N et CI montrent que le SPAD-502 pourrait être un instrument utile pour l’évaluation des teneurs en N dans des semis de chêne rouge. Les semis fertilisés présentaient également des niveaux d’assimilation nette de CO2, de conductance stomatique et de transpiration plus élevés que les plants témoins. La croissance plus forte des semis en réponse à la fertilisation était liée à des échanges gazeux plus actifs et une plus forte assimilation de nutriments, ce qui peut augmenter les chances de succès à la transplantation en forêt.

Winter variation in physiological status of cold stored and freshly lifted semi-evergreen Quercus nigra seedlings

Abstract• Water oak (Quercus nigra L.) is a tardily deciduous species commonly planted in afforestation projects in the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley, USA. Field performance is often marked by low survival rates and top dieback, which may be associated with poor physiological quality of planting stock.• We investigated physiological status of cold stored (2–4 °C; CS) and freshly lifted (FL) seedlings during the period between lifting and planting (December — February). In mid-February, seedlings were transplanted into a controlled greenhouse environment for 90 d to evaluate post-transplant growth performance.• Net photosynthetic rates were positive until late January (generally greater in CS seedlings) and became negative thereafter. FL seedlings generally had lower LT50 values from freeze-induced electrolyte leakage (FIEL), reflecting greater cold hardiness. FIEL of foliage provided the best indicator of physiological status, though terminal buds may serve as a suitable substitute. All seedlings experienced top dieback following transplant; CS seedlings had less relative root-collar diameter, height, and root volume increments.• Cold storing seedlings did not appear to prolong dormancy, increase stress resistance, or hold promise as a means to improve outplanting success. Regardless of storage regime, seedlings appeared to be most cold hardy and perhaps stress resistant until late January.Résumé• Quercus nigra L. est une espèce semi décidue, plantée dans les projets de reboisement dans la Basse vallée alluviale du fleuve Mississippi aux Etats-Unis. Les performances en plantation sont souvent marquées par un faible taux de survie et un dépérissement de la flèche du plant, ce qui peut être associé à leur mauvaise qualité physiologique.• Nous avons étudié l’état physiologique de jeunes plants stockés au froid (2–4 °C ; CS) et récemment arrachés (FL), au cours de la période entre l’arrachage et la plantation (Décembre — Février). Á la mifévrier, les plants ont été transplantés pour 90 jours dans une serre climatiquement contrôlée, pour évaluer les performances concernant la croissance après transplantation.• Les taux de photosynthèse nette ont été positifs jusqu’ à la fin janvier (généralement plus élevés pour les jeunes plants CS) et sont devenus négatifs par la suite. Les plants FL ont eu généralement des valeurs LT50 inférieures de perte d’électrolyte induit par le gel (FIEL), reflétant une plus grande tolérance au froid. Le FIEL du feuillage fourni le meilleur indicateur de l’état physiologique, même si les bourgeons terminaux peuvent servir comme un substitut approprié. Tous les plants on présenté une perte des feuilles de la flèche à la suite de la transplantation ; les plants CS avaient un rapport relatif racine-diamètre du collet, une hauteur, et des accroissements du volume de racines, moindres.• Le stockage au froid des plants ne semble pas prolonger la dormance, ni accroître la résistance au stress de transplantation, ou tenir la promesse d’un moyen d’amélioration de la réussite du reboisement. Indépendamment du régime de stockage, les plants semblent être plus tolérants au froid et peut-être plus résistants au stress jusqu’à la fin janvier.

Do Container Volume, Site Preparation, and Field Fertilization Affect Restoration Potential of Wyoming Big Sagebrush?

ABSTRACT: Land management practices, invasive species expansion, and changes in the fire regime greatly impact the distribution of native plants in natural areas. Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), a keystone species in the Great Basin, has seen a 50% reduction in its distribution. For many dryland species, reestablishment efforts have focused on direct seeding but achieved only minor success due to irregular seed germination and poor survival. We investigated the effects of container volume and fertilization on the performance of nursery-grown Wyoming big sagebrush seedlings following outplanting. Additionally, to evaluate the impact of site preparation, one-year-old seedlings were outplanted into tilled and untilled field conditions. Initial seedling size increased with container volume; larger seedlings exhibited significantly higher root collar diameter (RCD) growth than smaller seedlings. As container volume increased from 108 to 251 and 336 cm3, seedling survival on the tilled plot increased from 28 to 44 and 43%, respectively, whereas no influence was observed on the untilled plot (57 to 61, and 60%, respectively). Fertilization reduced seedling survival on tilled (by 25%) and untilled (by 14%) plots. Fertilizer increased RCD growth on the untilled plot but final nutrient status was unaffected. Thus, container volume may influence seedling morphology and optimize establishment, while field fertilization, especially during spring outplanting when planting sites have low moisture availability, may hinder first-year survival.

Short-term impacts of elevated UV-B radiation on soybeans

The impact of increased solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure due to stratospheric ozone depletion can negatively affect plant growth and physiology, decreasing crop productivity. While some effects of prolonged elevated UV-B exposure on plants is clear, relatively little is known about the short-term effects of UV-B exposure, although, there are evidence of short-term UV-B increases that likely occur during summer. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the short-term effects of UV-B exposure on stomatal conductance (gs), UV-B absorbing compounds and photosynthetic pigment concentrations of soybean cultivars Glycine max [L.] Merr. cvs. Essex and Williams 82. Results showed that changes in leaf reflectance at 552 and 714 nm with UV exposure appear to be linked to UV-B induced alterations in pigment concentrations and the changes in reflectance seemed to be more dependent on the period of exposure rather than the UV-B dosage received. The UV-B exposed Williams 82 exhibited lower gs compared to UV-B exposed Essex throughout the experiment. The concentrations of carotenoids, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll in leaf extracts were unchanged in response to an 18-h UV-B treatment in Essex but they increased significantly in Williams 82. Anthocyanin did not change significantly in either cultivar after the 18-h exposure. The 18-h UV exposure did result in substantially higher of UV-B absorbing compounds in Essex compared to Williams 82. Results of a 6-h UV-B exposure caused an induction of Chlorophyll a/b binding protein (CAB) and Phenyl ammonia lyase (PAL) in the irradiated leaves of Williams 82 and Essex and an up regulation in Chalcone synthase (CHS) in Williams but not in Essex. Further work should assess whether these short-term responses are related to the long-term UV-B mechanisms of damage and protection in soybeans and examine how the induction of genes are related to sensitivity of soybeans to UV-B stress.