scholarly journals Allometry and Post-Drought Growth Resilience of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Varieties

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 930
Author(s):  
Saša Kostić ◽  
Saša Orlović ◽  
Velisav Karaklić ◽  
Lazar Kesić ◽  
Martina Zorić ◽  
...  

This paper presents an analysis of the radial growth, tree dimensions, and allometry of three phenological pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.; QURO) varieties (early (E-QURO), typical (T-QURO), and late (L-QURO)), from a common garden experiment. We focused on the resistance and resilience of each variety to drought events, which occurred in 2012 and 2017, as well as their recovery potential during juvenile and mature growth phases, with the goal of clarifying how QURO drought sensitivity is influenced by tree phenology and growth stage. Our results indicate that E-QURO is more drought resistant, while T-QURO and L-QURO exhibit greater recovery potential after a drought event. Hence, typical and late QURO varieties are better prepared to withstand climate change. We also noted differences in the physical dimensions and the allometry of the studied QURO varieties. On average, 21-year-old QURO specimens from the analyzed stand are 9.35 m tall, have a crown width (CW) of 8.05 m, and a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 23.71 cm. Although T-QURO varieties had the greatest DBH and CW, they were shorter than E- and L-QURO, which are similar in height. T-QURO is also shorter relative to DBH, while L-QURO has a wider crown relative to tree height (TH). Intra-variety variations are higher than variations among half-sib (open-pollinated) families of each variety. Moreover, the adopted regression model provided a better fit to the CW/DBH ratio than to TH/DBH and CW/TH.

2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-315
Author(s):  
Władysław Barzdajn ◽  
Maciej Bruder

Abstract In this paper, we present the results and analyse of tree height measurements, phenological observations (bud flushing), oak powdery mildew symptoms and multiple shoots of pedunculate oaks Quercus robur L. at the age of 12 years. The examined oaks belonged to 29 open pollination families. Family as well as individual heritability scored very highly for their respective indices. The calculated indices were 0.83 for tree height, 0.98 for flushing of buds, 0.53 for oak powdery mildew symptoms and 0.58 for the multi-stem index. Family seed orchards established using a completely randomized design are not a reliable substitute for progeny testing, because of the commonly small number of collected families.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Morales ◽  
Kelly Swarts

We leveraged publicly available data on juvenile tree height of 299 Central European Norway spruce populations grown in a common garden experiment across 24 diverse trial locations in Austria and weather data from the trial locations and population provenances to parse the heritable and climatic components of tree height variation. Principal component analysis of geospatial and weather variables demonstrated high interannual variation among trial environments, largely driven by differences in precipitation, and separation of population provenances based on altitude, temperature, and snowfall. Tree height was highly heritable and genetic variation for tree height was strongly associated with climatic relationships among population provenances. Modeling the covariance between populations and trial environments based on climatic data increased the heritable signal for tree height.


2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
ZDZISŁAW KACZMARSKI ◽  
KATARZYNA MASTERNAK ◽  
MATEUSZ JARMUŁ

The paper presents results of an analysis of pedunculate oak slenderness. The dependence between slenderness of the oak tree and dimensions of the trunk and the crown dimensions of a single tree were examined. The biosocial position of each tree was determined based on the Kraft’s classification criteria. Following dimensions were measured for each tree: height, height of base of live crown, crown radius, diameter at breast height. The following crown parameters related to the growth space of a single tree were determined: crown length, crown width, crown projection area, space of a single tree, Seebach’s growth space number, crown projection area to basal area ratio, crown spread. Based on the obtained results, the following was found: biosocial position of the oak tree in vertical structure of the stand has significant impact on the size of the tree slenderness; the slenderness increases with deterioration of the biosocial position of the tree, but it decreases with the increase in the value of the tree’s measurement characteristics and the measures of its crown. 


2009 ◽  
Vol 160 (5) ◽  
pp. 114-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Otto ◽  
Sven Wagner ◽  
Peter Brang

The competitive pressure of naturally regenerated European beech (Fagus sylvatica) saplings on planted pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) was investigated on two 1.8 ha permanent plots near Habsburg and Murten (Switzerland). The plots were established with the aim to test methods of artificial oak regeneration after large-scale windthrow. On both plots, 80 oaks exposed to varying levels of competitive pressure from at most 10 neighbouring beech trees were selected. The height of each oak as well as stem and branch diameters were measured. The competitive pressure was assessed using Schütz's competition index, which is based on relative tree height, crown overlap and distance from competing neighbours. Oak trees growing without or with only slight competition from beech were equally tall, while oaks exposed to moderate to strong competition were smaller. A threshold value for the competition index was found above which oak height decreased strongly. The stem and branch diameters of the oaks started to decrease even if the competition from beech was slight, and decreased much further with more competition. The oak stems started to become more slender even with only slight competition from beech. On the moderately acid beech sites studied here, beech grow taller faster than oak. Thus where beech is competing with oak and the aim is to maintain the oak, competitive pressure on the oak must be reduced at an early stage. The degree of the intervention should, however, take the individual competitive interaction into account, with more intervention if the competition is strong.


1993 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Maddelein ◽  
J. Neirynck ◽  
G. Sioen

Mature  Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris  L.) stands are dominating large parts of the Flemish forest area. Broadleaved  species regenerate spontaneously under this pine canopy. This study studied  the growth and development of two planted pine stands with an older natural  regeneration, dominated by pedunculate oak (Quercus  robur L.), and discussed management options for  similar stands.     The results indicated a rather good growth of the stands, with current  annual increments of 5 m3.ha-1.yr-1. The pine overstorey is growing into valuable sawwood  dimensions, while the broadleaved understorey slowly grows into the  upperstorey. The quality of the regeneration is moderate but can be improved  by silvicultural measurements (pruning, early selection).     In both stands, an interesting (timber production, nature conservation)  admixture of secondary tree species is present in the regeneration. Stand  management is evolving from the classical clearcut system towards a  combination of a type of selection and group selection system.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 715
Author(s):  
Shengwang Meng ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Sheng Hu ◽  
Haibin Wang ◽  
Huimin Wang

Current models for oak species could not accurately estimate biomass in northeastern China, since they are usually restricted to Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.) on local sites, and specifically, no biomass models are available for Liaodong oak (Quercuswutaishanica Mayr). The goal of this study was, therefore, to develop generic biomass models for both oak species on a large scale and evaluate the biomass allocation patterns within tree components. A total of 159 sample trees consisting of 120 Mongolian oak and 39 Liaodong oak were harvested and measured for wood (inside bark), bark, branch and foliage biomass. To account for the belowground biomass, 53 root systems were excavated following the aboveground harvest. The share of biomass allocated to different components was assessed by calculating the ratios. An aboveground additive system of biomass models and belowground equations were fitted based on predictors considering diameter (D), tree height (H), crown width (CW) and crown length (CL). Model parameters were estimated by jointly fitting the total and the components’ equations using the weighted nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression method. A leave-one-out cross-validation procedure was used to evaluate the predictive ability. The results revealed that stem biomass accounts for about two-thirds of the aboveground biomass. The ratio of wood biomass holds constant and that of branches increases with increasing D, H, CW and CL, while a reverse trend was found for bark and foliage. The root-to-shoot ratio nonlinearly decreased with D, ranging from 1.06 to 0.11. Tree diameter proved to be a good predictor, especially for root biomass. Tree height is more prominent than crown size for improving stem biomass models, yet it puts negative effects on crown biomass models with non-significant coefficients. Crown width could help improve the fitting results of the branch and foliage biomass models. We conclude that the selected generic biomass models for Mongolian oak and Liaodong oak will vigorously promote the accuracy of biomass estimation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jessica S. Ambriz ◽  
Clementina González ◽  
Eduardo Cuevas

Abstract Fuchsia parviflora is a dioecious shrub that depends on biotic pollination for reproduction. Previous studies suggest that the male plants produce more flowers, and male-biased sex ratios have been found in some natural populations. To assess whether the biased sex ratios found between genders in natural populations are present at the point at which plants reach sexual maturity, and to identify possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction, we performed a common garden experiment. Finally, to complement the information of the common garden experiment, we estimated the reproductive biomass allocation between genders in one natural population. Sex ratios at reaching sexual maturity in F. parviflora did not differ from 0.5, except in one population, which was the smallest seedling population. We found no differences between genders in terms of the probability of germination or flowering. When flowering began, female plants were taller than males and the tallest plants of both genders required more time to reach sexual maturity. Males produced significantly more flowers than females, and the number of flowers increased with plant height in both genders. Finally, in the natural population studied, the investment in reproductive biomass was seven-fold greater in female plants than in male plants. Our results showed no evidence of possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction. Despite the fact that female plants invest more in reproductive biomass, they were taller than the males after flowering, possibly at the expense of herbivory defence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 425 ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Albaugh ◽  
Thomas R. Fox ◽  
Chris A. Maier ◽  
Otávio C. Campoe ◽  
Rafael A. Rubilar ◽  
...  

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