Cone-Induction Response of Douglas Fir to Form of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Time of Treatment

1972 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorne F. Ebell
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Ammonium Nitrogen ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Bud Break ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Nitrate Treatment ◽  
Old Trees

Cone production increases of 2.5, 5.0 and 1.5 times that of control were obtained the year following treatment with 400 lb nitrate nitrogen per acre (1 lb/acre = 1.12 kg/ha), applied 6 weeks before vegetative bud break, at the start of bud break, and 10 days after the midpoint of the bud break period, respectively, on 20-year-old Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco.). Cone counts of 15, 26, 72, 142 and 155 were obtained from 0, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 lb nitrate nitrogen per acre, applied to 13-year-old trees during early bud break. Ammonium nitrogen, applied at the same rates and times, was ineffective for stimulation of cone production on either age of tree. There were no differences in rate of accumulation of total nitrogen in buds and foliage, shoot-growth responses, or total number of buds per shoot due to form of nitrogen. Nitrate treatment enhanced cone production through a reduction in bud failure during the shoot elongation period. These results suggest responses are not primarily due to improved mineral nutrition, but to a specific chemical stimulation from critically timed changes in type of nitrogen metabolism. Possible influences of temperature and rainfall on natural cone crop periodicity and on proper timing of nitrate treatment are discussed.

Girdling: its effect on carbohydrate status and on reproductive bud and cone development of Douglas fir

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Ebell
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Bud Break ◽  
Variable Response ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Carbohydrate Concentration ◽  
Cone Development ◽  
Food Reserves ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Partial girdles were applied in August, 1957, to one stem of two double-stemmed, 20-year-old Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). The second stem served as control. A third double-stemmed tree was treated in May, 1958. Cone production responses were obtained on all three girdled stems, averaging 7.4 times that of control stems in 1959, and 1.6 and 2.3 times that of control stems in 1961 and 1962. Cone production responses to treatment, and cone crop variation over several years were correlated with reduced bud failure during the period of new shoot elongation. Total number of buds per shoot was initially similar for paired stems. These relationships indicated a predetermined potential for annual cone production, and that cone crop periodicity is determined by later conditions favorable or unfavorable to continued early bud development. Treatment increased both sugars and starch in shoots sampled 40 days after August girdling, but only starch remained elevated the next spring and throughout the decisive May–June period of reproductive bud development. Other factors indicated food reserves to be related only weakly to reproductive bud survival. Cone production reduced carbohydrate concentration in shoots of all ages, growth and number of new shoots, and number of developed buds per shoot. These factors explain the absence of consecutive cone crops in Douglas fir, and suggest that cone inducing treatments should not be applied in good flowering years. Cone production responses on single-stemmed trees girdled at weekly intervals showed an optimum timing coincident with the onset of flowering, a more variable response up to the time of vegetative bud break, then an adverse effect on cone production when girdled later than 1 week after vegetative bud break.

Nitrogenous substances associated with differential cone production responses of Douglas fir to ammonium and nitrate fertilization

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 2169-2177 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Ebell ◽  
Eleanor E. McMullan
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Free Amino ◽  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Nitrate Treatment ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Nitrogenous Substances

Nitrogenous substances were analyzed from 6-week-old foliage of 13-year-old Douglas fir, treated at vegetative bud break with 200 to 1600 lb/ac of ammonium or nitrate nitrogen. Increasing rates of nitrate nitrogen elevated seed cone production the next year by 2 to 7 times, whereas ammonium nitrogen produced no responses. Total nitrogen increases and shoot growth were similar from the two forms of nitrogen. Increases in total free amino acids with increasing rates of nitrate treatment were double those from ammonium, but size of the free amino acid pool appeared unrelated to seed cone production. Amino acid patterns, and traces of several guanidino compounds, from ammonium treatments did not vary appreciably from those of the untreated control. Most of the increase in total nitrogen from ammonium treatment was incorporated as protein, but electrophoretic patterns did not vary qualitatively with the form of nitrogen supplied. Large accumulations of basic amino acids, notably arginine, and guanidino substances resulted from nitrate treatment. This arginine-type metabolism appeared quantitatively associated with seed cone production.

The growth of Luffa aegyptiaca in response to various nitrogen sources and concentrations

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 2283-2287
Author(s):  
Olubukanla T. Okusanya ◽  
Olusola O. Lakanmi
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Ammonium Nitrogen ◽  
Lateritic Soil ◽  
Sand Culture ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Luffa Aegyptiaca

The growth responses of Luffa aegyptiaca to various nitrogen sources and concentrations were investigated. In sand culture at high concentrations of nitrogen, the species showed equally favourable responses to nitrate nitrogen (KNO3 or Ca(NO3)2), ammonium nitrogen ((NH4)2SO4), and the combination of nitrate and ammonium nitrogen (NH4NO3). There was poor growth in response to NaNO3, CO(NH2)2, and a solution lacking nitrogen. In lateritic soil, the species responded better to ammonium nitrogen and the combination of nitrate and ammonium nitrogen than to nitrate nitrogen. Growth was generally poorer in lateritic soil than in sand. Neither the nitrogen sources nor their concentrations had any significant effect on root weight or the leaf weight ratio. There was a significant decrease in growth as nitrogen concentration decreased in KNO3 and Ca(NO3)2 treatments but it was only at the low concentrations of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 that growth was significantly reduced. The shoot: root mass ratio decreased as nitrogen concentration decreased. The nature of the growth media and the ecological habit of the species are used to partly explain its responses to different nitrogen sources and concentrations. The possible application of these results to increasing the production of L. aegyptiaca is also discussed.

Timing of gibberellin A4/7 application for cone production in potted black spruce grafts

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1137-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong H. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Foliar Spray ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Bud Break ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Best Response ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud

Potted 5-year-old grafts of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) growing in either a heated greenhouse or an outdoor holding area were sprayed weekly at 200 mg•L−1 gibberellin A4/7 for various durations and timings. The application began 1 to 6 weeks after vegetative bud break and continued until the end of lateral shoot elongation. Sprayings ended at the same time for all treatments, about 1 week before leaf primordial differentiation on the shoot apices. The best response in seed-cone production occurred when application began 2 weeks after bud break (midstage of rapid shoot elongation) and continued for 5 weeks; treatments were also effective when applications began 3 weeks after bud break or earlier and continued for 4 to 6 weeks. Treatments initiated later (4 to 6 weeks after bud break) were not effective. Grafts kept outdoors produced more seed cones than those kept indoors. The effects on cone production of gibberellin A4/7 application at four different concentrations were compared by spraying for 6 weeks, beginning 1 week after vegetative bud burst. Gibberellin A4/7 at 200 mg•L−1 was the lowest foliar spray concentration found to be effective in promoting seed-cone production.

Interaction between gibberellin A4/7 and root-pruning on the reproductive and vegetative processes in Douglas-fir. IV. Effects on lateral bud development

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Owens ◽  
J. E. Webber ◽  
S. D. Ross ◽  
R. P. Pharis
Keyword(s):  
Normal Development ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Lateral Bud ◽  
Mitotic Frequency ◽  
Bud Initiation ◽  
Vegetative Bud

The anatomy, mitotic frequency, size, and total insoluble carbohydrate histochemistry was studied in axillary apices from 9- and 10-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees after cone induction treatments of root-pruning and (or) stem injections of a gibberellin A4 and A7 (GA4/7) mixture. Axillary buds were initiated at the time of root-pruning, but root-pruning treatment had no effect on axillary bud initiation. Axillary apices from control and gibberellin-treated trees were similar and followed the normal sequence of bud-scale initiation, differentiation, and leaf initiation (described previously) and no cone buds differentiated. Early development of axillary apices from root-pruned and root-pruned, gibberellin-treated trees was normal, but development became retarded near the time of vegetative bud flush. Retarded apices were small with low mitotic frequency and developed many features characteristics of latent apices. Retardation of axillary apices continued until mid-July when normal development resumed and apices differentiated into reproductive buds or vegetative buds, or became latent. The trees in which the greatest retardation of apical development occurred during lateral shoot elongation produced the most cone buds. These results are discussed in relation to hypotheses proposed to explain how cultural and gibberellin treatments affect cone induction in the Pinaceae.

Gibberellin A4/7 enhances seed-cone production in field-grown black spruce

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong H. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seed Orchard ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Lateral Shoot ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Vegetative Bud ◽  
Needle Primordia

Black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) grafts growing in a seed orchard were sprayed with gibberellin A4/7, and grafts and trees in families growing in arboreta were sprayed with gibberellin A4/7 and (or) vitamin E from vegetative bud burst to the end of shoot elongation. Gibberellin A4/7 was very effective in promoting seed cones and 400 mg/L appeared optimal. Vitamin E at 1000 mg/L was not effective. Vegetative bud burst occurred in mid-May and shoot elongation ended in late June. Needle primordia were visible on the apices of newly formed buds at the end of June. Reproductive buds had fewer bud scales than vegetative buds. It appeared that potential reproductive buds terminated their bud scale initiation earlier. Gibberellin A4/7 application to promote seed-cone production should be carried out before bud-type differentiation. This coincides with the end of lateral shoot elongation.

Temperature thresholds of shoot elongation in provenances of Pinus contorta

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1444-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Chuine ◽  
Sally N Aitken ◽  
Cheng C Ying
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Total Elongation ◽  
Genotype By Environment Interaction ◽  
Temperature Threshold ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Temperature Thresholds ◽  
Threshold Temperatures

Periodicity of shoot elongation in seedlings of Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. was assessed during one growing season in two extremely different environments (Cowichan Lake, and Red Rock, British Columbia) for 109 provenances sampled range wide. Analysis of variance of total elongation and growth parameters showed significant differences among geographic regions and among provenances within each region. Our study also revealed tremendous genotype-by-environment interaction for growth and phenological traits. The response of growth to temperature of each provenance was assessed from their growth curve using an original methodology. The estimated temperature threshold of the provenance growth responses (i.e., the temperature for which the response reaches half of its maximum) varied between 4.1 and 6.5°C among regions. Threshold temperatures showed less variation than total elongation, and only the northern provenances showed thresholds significantly different from the other regions. Our results show that, across highly contrasting environments, relationship between phenology and growth may not be as important as the relationship between growth and number of internode priomordia. This tempers the results of studies, carried out in one or few similar environments, that have shown that phenological differences were important in determining total height growth in lodgepole pine.

scholarly journals Observations on the mobilization of peat nitrogen in incubation experiments

1959 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 268-281
Author(s):  
Jaakko Kivekäs ◽  
Erkki Kivinen
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
Ammonium Nitrogen ◽  
The Other ◽  
Incubation Experiments ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Working Out ◽  
Original Amount

60 peat samples from northern Finland representing different types of peat were incubated in a laboratory at a temperature of 17—18° C. The ammonium nitrogen, the nitrate nitrogen and the pH in the samples were determined after one month of incubation as well as after three months of incubation. The results were compared to results from determinations made before incubation. An attempt was made to elucidate the factors that influence the mobilization of nitrogen. On the basis of the above results it is evident that the differences between the various peat types as mobilizers of nitrogen are under these circumstances not very distinct, nor do these differences seem to be dependent on the types of peat. The following facts can, however, be established: In the amounts of ammonium nitrogen an increase takes place in most groups of samples during the first month. This increase is fairly big in the Sphagnum-dominated peats. The increase in ammonium nitrogen continues in the unlimed samples in most peat groups during all three months of incubation. After three months of incubation the amount of ammonium nitrogen in the limed samples is smaller than in the unlimed samples, although it is usually bigger than in the original samples. After the first month of incubation the amounts of nitrate nitrogen in all types of peat have decreased compared to the amounts in the original samples. In the limed samples the decrease is not as great as in the unlimed ones. After three months of incubation the amount of nitrate nitrogen has considerably increased as compared to the amount after one month of incubation. In the limed samples it might to some extent exceed the original amount of nitrate nitrogen, however, this is seldom the case in the unlimed samples. If the results are calculated on the basis of weight unit, it can be stated that the ability to mobilize nitrogen is greater in the Sphagnum peats than in the other peat groups. Working out the results in kg per ha it will be noted that somewhat more nitrogen is mobilized in the Carex-dominated than in the Sphagnum-dominated peats. The results obtained by experiments in the laboratory are not directly applicable to conditions in the field.

Heartwood decay resistance by vertical and radial position in Douglas-fir trees from a young stand

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1993-1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara L Gartner ◽  
Jeffrey J Morrell ◽  
Camille M Freitag ◽  
Rachel Spicer
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Decay Resistance ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Radial Position ◽  
Sapwood Area ◽  
Decay Fungus ◽  
Postia Placenta ◽  
Young Stand ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Old Trees

Heartwood durability of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) was studied as a function of vertical and radial position in boles of trees with a wide range of leaf area/sapwood area ratios. Six 34-year-old trees were harvested from each of three plots established 14 years before: very dense, thinned, and thinned and fertilized. Heartwood samples from three radial positions and five heights were incubated with the decay fungus Postia placenta (Fr.) M. Larsen et Lombard. There were no significant differences in wood mass loss (decay resistance) by vertical or radial position. One could expect that trees with high leaf area/sapwood area could have the carbon to produce heartwood that is more resistant to decay than trees with lower leaf area/sapwood area. However, we found no relationship between leaf area above node 20, sapwood area there, or their ratio, and the decay resistance of outer heartwood at that node. These results suggest that, for young Douglas-fir trees, heartwood durability does not vary with position in the bole or with environments that alter the tree's balance of sapwood and leaf area. We suggest that young stands may thus be robust with respect to the effect of silvicultural regimes on heartwood durability.

Cost of reproduction in Douglas-fir

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1429-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousry A. El-Kassaby ◽  
Hugh J. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Annual Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Energy Allocation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Annual Ring Width ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone

The balance between allocating energy resources to reproduction or growth has considerable theoretical interest. Conflicting ecological requirements and evolutionary pressures often necessitate a trade-off in energy allocation. We obtained measurements on seed-cone production and annual ring width of 365 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees from 29 open-pollinated families for 8 years. Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations were computed for seed-cone production and ring width for each year. Five of the eight environmental correlations were negative (range −0.077 to −0.305), reflecting the reality of the trade-off in physiological terms. Six of the eight genetic correlations were negative (range −0.199 to −0.776), indicating that a trade-off exists at the genetic level between energy allocation to reproduction and to somatic growth. These findings agree with the current theory of life-history evolution. Key words: Pseudotsuga menziesii, cone production, annual ring width, genetic correlation.

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