Functional traits related to seedling performance in the Mediterranean leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa: Insights from a provenance, fertilization, and rhizobial inoculation study

Villar-Salvador, Pedro; Valladares, Fernando; Domínguez-Lerena, Susana; Ruiz‐Díez, Beatriz; Fernández‐Pascual, Mercedes; Delgado, Antonio; Peñuelas, J.

doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2008.04.005

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…In our experiment, RGP did not differ significantly between the two seed origins. The same results were reported for Retama sphaerocarpa, also a leguminous woody species (Villar-Salvador et al 2008). In another RGP test, black locust developed a 5-10 times heavier root system in comparison with the conifer species tested (Kostopoulou et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Nevertheless, miniplug transplants grown in stabilized medium showed a significantly more favourable RDM/SDM ratio compared to those grown in peat, suggesting a better potential for survival and growth in the field (Mattsson 1996;Villar-Salvador et al 2008). Improved seedling survival and growth traits of all seedlings grown in stabilized medium, particularly in the pre-cultivation stage, suggest that this substrate can enhance the performance of even relatively poor genetic material.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of seed origin, growing medium and mini-plug density on early growth and quality of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.]) seedlings

Dini-Papanastasi¹,

Κωστοπούλου²,

Radoglou³

2012

J. For. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:The objective of this study was to identify optimal growing conditions for the production of high-quality mini-plug seedlings of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.]). Two seed origins (Greek and Hungarian), two growing media (enriched peat and stabilized medium) and four mini-plug densities (975; 1,460; 1,820 and 3,500 mini-plugs·m -2 )were tested in two phases, in growth chambers and in a nursery after transplanting the mini-plugs into larger containers. Measurements included seedling survival, growth traits (root length, shoot height, leaf area, root dry mass, shoot dry mass, root/shoot ratio) and root growth potential (RGP). In addition, the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence (F v /F m ) and the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΔF/F' m ) were measured. It was found that growing medium produced significant effects mainly in the first phase and seed origin in the second phase while mini-plug density was important in both phases. The F v /F m ratio was found to be significantly affected by growing medium while the effective quantum yield was influenced by density. Early survival of seedlings was closely correlated with fluorescence and growth traits (particularly with plant height) suggesting that these parameters might be useful for the grading of black locust seedlings prior to transplanting.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of seed origin, growing medium and mini-plug density on early growth and quality of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.]) seedlings

Dini-Papanastasi¹,

Κωστοπούλου²,

Radoglou³

2012

J. For. Sci.

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“…Greater root systems of large seedlings could explain their frequently improved post-transplanting performance relative to small seedlings in Mediterranean plantations (Luis et al 2009;Oliet et al 2009;Tsakaldimi et al 2005;Villar-Salvador et al 2008). Contrary to our expectations, we did not find differences in root depth among seedlings phenotypes, which differs with the result found for J. thurifera, where roots of large seedlings grew deeper than those of small seedlings (Martínez-Sanz 2006).…”

Section: Root Growth and Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Villar-Salvador (2003) suggested that higher root growth after transplanting in containerized plants might explain the frequently improved survival and growth of large, N-rich seedlings relative to seedlings with the opposite traits in Mediterranean plantations (Luis et al 2009;Oliet et al 2009;Puértolas et al 2003;Tsakaldimi et al 2005;Villar-Salvador et al 2004;Villar-Salvador et al 2008). Cuesta et al (2010) observed that large Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root growth dynamics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings in relation to shoot elongation, plant size and tissue nitrogen concentration

Cuesta

Vega

Villar-Salvador

et al. 2010

Trees

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Large and high nitrogen (N) concentration seedlings frequently have higher survival and growth in Mediterranean forest plantations than seedlings with the opposite traits, which has been linked to the production of deeper and larger root systems in the former type of seedlings. This study assessed the influence of seedling size and N concentration on root growth dynamics and its relation to shoot elongation in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings. We cultivated seedlings that differed in size and tissue N concentration that were subsequently transplanted into transparent methacrylate tubes in the field. The number of roots, root depth, and the root and shoot elongation rate (length increase per unit time) were periodically measured for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, we also measured the twig water potential (w) and the mass of plant organs. New root mass at the end of the study increased with seedling size, which was linked to the production of a greater number of new roots of lower specific length rather than to higher elongation rate of individual roots. Neither plant size nor N concentration affected root depth. New root mass per leaf mass unit, shoot elongation rate, and pre-dawn w were reduced with reduction in seedling size, while mid-day w and the root relative growth rate were not affected by seedling size. N concentration had an additive effect on plant size on root growth but its overall effect was less important than seedling size. Shoot and roots had an antagonistic elongation pattern through time in small seedlings, indicating that the growth of both organs depressed each other and that they competed for the same resources. Antagonism between shoot and root elongation decreased with plant size, disappearing in large and medium seedlings, and it was independent of seedling N concentration. We conclude that root and shoot growth but not rooting depth increased with plant size and tissue N concentration in Aleppo pine seedlings. Since production of new roots is critical for the establishment of planted seedlings, higher absolute root growth in large seedlings may increase their transplanting performance relative to small seedlings. The lack of antagonism between root and shoot growth in large seedlings suggests that these plants can provide resources to sustain simultaneous growth of both organs.

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“…Low-quality plants may exhibit morphological and physiological characteristics that impair their performance under stressful conditions such as low water availability during summer. In contrast, high seedling quality may enhance the survival of this species by improving morphological parameters and physiological behaviour (Puértolas et al 2003;Villar-Salvador et al 2008;Oliet et al 2009b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in morphology, gas exchange and root hydraulic conductance before planting in Pinus canariensis seedlings growing under different fertilization and light regimes

Luis

Llorca

Chirino

et al. 2010

Trees

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As the main forestry species in the Canary Islands (Spain), Pinus canariensis is frequently used in afforestation programs. Several nursery techniques are commonly employed to modify its morphology and physiology with the aim of improving post-planting survival and growth. In this work, we studied how fertilization and light regime treatments applied during the nursery period modify biomass allocation patterns and produce effects in gas exchange and root hydraulic conductance. Seedlings were grown for a 6-month period in the nursery under two light regimes (full sunlight and 40% PAR reduction), and three fertilization levels were applied in each light regime. Morphology, biomass allocation patterns, leaf gas exchange and hydraulic conductance of the whole root system were evaluated. Fertilization treatments produced significant changes in biomass allocation, gas exchange and root hydraulic conductance under both light regimes. In contrast, no differences were found between full sunlight and shade, except for a slight variation in the root:shoot ratio. Photosynthesis rate and WUE increased with fertilization in both light regimes, while E and gs maintained the same values. An opposite trend was observed for root hydraulic conductance, which showed lower values with high fertilization regimes. The results obtained indicate that fertilization is more important, determining high photosynthetic capacity than high hydraulic conductance rates before planting in Pinus canariensis containerized seedlings.

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Functional traits related to seedling performance in the Mediterranean leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa: Insights from a provenance, fertilization, and rhizobial inoculation study

Cited by 35 publications

References 46 publications

Effects of seed origin, growing medium and mini-plug density on early growth and quality of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.]) seedlings

Effects of seed origin, growing medium and mini-plug density on early growth and quality of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.]) seedlings

Root growth dynamics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings in relation to shoot elongation, plant size and tissue nitrogen concentration

Differences in morphology, gas exchange and root hydraulic conductance before planting in Pinus canariensis seedlings growing under different fertilization and light regimes

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