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Carbon allocation and morphology of cherrybark oak seedlings and sprouts under three light regimes

Allocation de carbone et morphologie des semis et rejets de Quercus pagoda (Raf.) sous trois différents régimes d’éclairement

Annals of Forest Science volume 65, page 801 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • Continued problems in regenerating oak forests has led to a need for more basic information on oak seedling biology.

  • • In the present study, carbon allocation and morphology were compared between cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) seedlings and sprouts at 1-Lag grown in full, 47%, and 20% sunlight.

  • • Results indicated that cherrybark oak seedling carbon allocation and morphology responded plastically to light availability. In full light, roots were sinks for 14C, while shoots were sinks for 14C under reduced light availability. Cherrybark oak sprouts exhibited similar carbon allocation patterns in response to light availability, but displayed stronger shoot sinks than seedlings when grown underreduced light availability. We also showed that young oak sprout roots are a sink for 14C-photosynthates.

  • • Results from this study point to the need for a morphological index for oak sprout development so more precise comparisons in sprout development and physiology can be made with seedlings.

Résumé

  • • Des problèmes continus pour la régénération des forêts de chêne ont conduit à un besoin de plus d’informations de base sur la biologie des semis de chêne.

  • • Dans la présente étude, l’allocation de carbone et la morphologie ont été comparées entre des semis de Quercus pagoda Raf. et des rejets au stade de développement 1Lag cultivés en pleine lumière, à 47 % et à 20 % de lumière.

  • • Les résultats ont indiqué que l’allocation de carbone et la morphologie des semis de chêne ont répondu plastiquement à la disponibilité en lumière. En pleine lumière, les racines ont été des puits pour 14C, tandis que les pousses ont été des puits pour 14C sous une disponibilité réduite de la lumière. Les rejets ont montré des modes d’allocation de carbone similaires en réponse à la disponibilité en lumière, mais ont montré des puits plus importants que les jeunes plants quand ils ont été cultivés sous un éclairement réduit. Nous avons également montré que les jeunes chênes pousses des racines sont un puits pour photosynthats 14C.

  • • Les résultats de cette étude soulignent le besoin d’un indice morphologique de développement des rejets de chêne de manière à pouvoir faire des comparaisons plus précises en ce qui concerne le développement des rejets et leur physiologie par rapport aux jeunes plants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southern Research Station, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, USDA Forest Service, PO Box 227, 38776, Stoneville, MS, USA

    Brian Roy Lockhart & Emile S. Gardiner

  2. Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University, 39762, Mississippi State, MS, USA

    John D. Hodges & Andrew W. Ezell

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  1. Brian Roy Lockhart
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  2. Emile S. Gardiner
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  3. John D. Hodges
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  4. Andrew W. Ezell
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Correspondence to Brian Roy Lockhart.

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Lockhart, B.R., Gardiner, E.S., Hodges, J.D. et al. Carbon allocation and morphology of cherrybark oak seedlings and sprouts under three light regimes. Ann. For. Sci. 65, 801 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008064

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X