Carbon Dioxide Uptake of Pine Seedlings After Cool Storage

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0015-749X

Source： Forest Science, Vol.24, Iss.1, 1978-03, pp. : 17-25

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Abstract

Seedlings of Pinus mugo Turra and P. radiata D. Don were stored for periods of up to 18 weeks following different nursery bed wrenching treatments and lifting times. All seedlings were then potted and grown in controlled environment for 6 weeks before being assessed for CO₂ uptake and water potential. CO₂ uptake was measured using a pulse exposure of individual fascicles to air containing a known proportion of CO₂ as ¹⁴CO₂ Cool storage reduced the rate of CO₂ uptake in both species despite water potentials normal for active gas exchange at the time of measurement. Seedlings lifted in spring showed less CO₂ uptake than those lifted in midwinter, an effect compounded by storage. Wrenching did not affect CO₂ uptake until after the longest storage periods for P. radiata seedlings. In a more intensive examination of seedlings after 18 weeks storage P. mugo showed a steady recovery of CO₂ uptake despite initial water potentials of -16 bars, whereas P. radiata was unable to increase CO₂ uptake until water potential was above -14 bars. The results suggest that there is disorganisation of the photosynthetic process during storage and that recovery is slowed by low water potential following planting. Forest Sci. 24:17-25.