Synchronous and asynchronous root and shoot phenology in temperate woody seedlings

Tree roots comprise a huge carbon pool. Their dynamics are driven by environmental factors and thereby affected by climate change. We studied the effects of soil temperature on root and shoot phenology and their linkages in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Saplings were grown in controlled-environment rooms for three simulated growing seasons (GS1, GS2, and GS3). Soil-temperature treatments of 9, 13, 18, and 21 °C were applied during GS2. Root growth was monitored with minirhizotrons and commenced in all treatments simultaneously. Temporal growth patterns of short and long roots were usually bimodal. Root growth was very low during the coldest treatment of GS2 but increased during GS3 as an aftereffect. During GS3, growth of short roots continued later after colder treatments than warmer treatments. Reduced sink strength of roots and increased carbohydrate accumulation into needles at 9 °C during GS2 probably enabled compensatory root growth under restored temperatures during GS3. Soil temperature did not affect shoot phenology, and root and shoot phenology varied between growing seasons; thus, the linkage of root and shoot phenology was inconsistent. In warmer soil, root longevity was shorter and turnover rate was higher than in colder soil. This can further affect soil carbon dynamics and ecosystem carbon cycling in boreal forest ecosystems.

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Effects of leaf age on internal CO2 transfer conductance and photosynthesis in tree species having different types of shoot phenology

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/pp00102 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 28 (11) ◽

pp. 1075 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Yuko T. Hanba ◽

Shin-Ichi Miyazawa ◽

Hiroyuki Kogami ◽

Ichiro Terashima

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Leaf Age ◽

High Irradiance ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Mesophyll Cells ◽

Different Types ◽

Internal Co2 ◽

Transfer Conductance ◽

Shoot Phenology ◽

Acer Mono

We examined the changes in leaf anatomy and some physiological characteristics during leaf expansion and maturation. Three deciduous tree species having different types of shoot phenology, maple (Acer mono Maxim.; ‘flush’ type), alder (Alnus japonica(Thunb.) Steud.; ‘successive’ type), and Japanese poplar (Populus maximowiczii A. Henry; ‘successive’ type), were studied. Leaf CO 2 assimilation rate at high irradiance (P max) and CO 2 transfer conductance inside the leaf (g i) varied significantly with leaf development. There were strong positive relationships between P max) and g i for all of the species. The variations in g i were partly related to those in the surface area of chloroplasts facing the intercellular airspaces, while some other factors that related to liquid phase conductance may also contribute to the variation in g i . The developments of mesophyll cells were accompanied by the concomitant increase in chloroplast and Rubisco content in Alnus and Populus (successive types).

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Genetic variation in red alder (Alnusrubra) in relation to native climate and geography

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x93-243 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (9) ◽

pp. 1930-1939 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A. A. Ager ◽

P. E. Heilman ◽

R. F. Stettler

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Pacific Northwest ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Common Garden ◽

Sympatric Species ◽

Red Alder ◽

Geographic Patterns ◽

The Pacific ◽

Shoot Phenology ◽

River Drainages

Genetic variation was examined within and among populations of red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) from elevational gradients in four river drainages of the Pacific Northwest. Wind-pollinated progenies of 120 trees were grown for 3 years in a common garden environment and measured for growth and shoot phenology. Variation in top weight, bud flush, and leaf abscission was analyzed in relation to native climate and elevation and compared with sympatric species. Strong geographic patterns of variation were observed for all measured traits, apparently reflecting adaptations to highly variable climates within the region studied. Growth traits were correlated with temperature amplitude and length of growing season. Growth rhythm in bud flushing and growth cessation was related to two important environmental cues, spring thermal sums and fall frost dates. Overall levels of variation in red alder appeared to be similar to several sympatric conifers, although variation within populations of red alder was lower. The latter finding may be due to the demography of the riparian populations sampled, or perhaps a characteristic of the species and its colonizing life history.

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Changes in loblolly pine root growth potential from September to April

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x87-104 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 635-643 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Laura E. DeWald ◽

Peter P. Feret

Keyword(s):

Root Growth ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Lateral Roots ◽

Root Systems ◽

Shoot Elongation ◽

Growth Potential ◽

Late Winter ◽

Root Growth Potential ◽

Shoot Phenology

Loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) 1 + 0 seedlings were periodically hand lifted from a Virginia nursery to determine how root growth potential (RGP) varied between September and April. Several seedling characteristics, RGP, and shoot phenology were recorded for each lift date in 1983–1984 and 1984–1985. An attempt was made to relate RGP variation to changes in the nursery environment and to shoot phenology. Root growth potential variation was consistent between years and was more closely related to shoot phenological changes than to short-term environmental changes. During the development of dormancy, RGP was low, RGP increased when shoot activity resumed during the RGP tests (late winter, early spring), and declined as active shoot elongation began in the nursery. When RGP was low, elongation of existing lateral roots primarily contributed to the new root systems, but as seedling metabolism increased in the late winter, new root initiation also contributed to new root systems. Absolute differences in RGP between years may be related to the fibrosity of seedling root systems.

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A Quantitative Analysis of Shoot Phenology and Dominance in Herbaceous Vegetation

Journal of Ecology ◽

10.2307/2259378 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 759 ◽

Cited By ~ 386

Author(s):

M. M. Al-Mufti ◽

C. L. Sydes ◽

S. B. Furness ◽

J. P. Grime ◽

S. R. Band

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Herbaceous Vegetation ◽

Shoot Phenology

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Seasonal pattern of root growth in relation to shoot phenology and soil temperature in sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium): A preliminary study in central Chile

Ciencia e investigación agraria ◽

10.4067/s0718-16202012000100010 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 127-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Claudia Bonomelli ◽

Carlos Bonilla ◽

Edouard Acuña ◽

Pamela Artacho

Keyword(s):

Root Growth ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Sweet Cherry ◽

Prunus Avium ◽

Seasonal Pattern ◽

Central Chile ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Shoot Phenology ◽

Cherry Trees

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Shoot phenology and water relations of Piceaglauca

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x89-196 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 1287-1290 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Steven C. Grossnickle

Keyword(s):

Osmotic Potential ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Shoot Elongation ◽

Water Relation ◽

Day Length ◽

Late Winter ◽

Turgor Loss Point ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Length Changes ◽

Shoot Phenology

Piceaglauca var. albertiana (S. Brown) Sarg. shoot phenology and water relation parameters were monitored monthly for 1 year. Seedlings were kept outdoors, well watered, and exposed to seasonal changes in temperature and day length. Changes in shoot water relation parameters corresponded with changes in phenology. During spring, shoot elongation, osmotic potential at saturation, and turgor loss point were least negative, −1.30 and −1.56 MPa, respectively, whereas bulk modulus of elasticity at full turgor was at its highest, 22 MPa. Both osmotic potential at saturation and turgor loss point were most negative, −2.01 and −2.73 MPa, respectively, during late winter just before bud break. Shoot dry weight fraction was at its lowest, 0.33 g dry wt./g shoot weight and maximum symplastic water per unit weight of shoot tissue was at its highest, 3.99 g H2O/g dry wt., during spring shoot elongation. Number of osmoles of solute per kilogram shoot dry weight was highest during spring and late summer shoot elongation phases, 1.03 and 0.91 osmol/kg dry wt., respectively. These data suggest that P. glauca seedlings do not adjust well to dry site conditions.

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A Window Into Below-ground Growth of Landscape Trees: Implications for Transplant Success

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.4.4.368 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 368-371

Author(s):

Roger Harris ◽

Nina L. Bassuk ◽

Thomas H. Whitlow

Keyword(s):

Root Growth ◽

Root Length ◽

Shoot Growth ◽

Fraxinus Pennsylvanica ◽

Green Ash ◽

Root And Shoot Growth ◽

Below Ground ◽

Tree Transplanting ◽

Shoot Phenology ◽

Landscape Trees

Root and shoot phenology were observed, and root length within rootballs were calculated for Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. (green ash), Quecus coccinea Muenchh. (scarlet oak), Corylus colurna L. (Turkish hazelnut), and Syringa reticulata (Blume) Hara `Ivory Silk' (tree lilac) trees established in a rhizotron. Easy-to-transplant species (green ash and tree lilac) had more root length within rootballs than difficult-to-transplant species (Turkish hazelnut and scarlet oak). Shoot growth began before root growth on all species except scarlet oak, which began root and shoot growth simultaneously. Fall root growth ceased for all species just after leaf drop. Implications for tree transplanting are discussed.

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