Measuring changes in stress and vitality indicators in limed sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania

Abstract

A study established in 1985 in north-central Pennsylvania to determine effects of lime fertilization on declining sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) was evaluated in 1993 and showed that liming positively affected growth and crown vitality in sugar maple. This effect of lime on sugar maple offered an opportunity to assess other indicators of tree vitality and their response to lime additions. Foliar polyamines, starch and soluble sugars in root tissues, and cambial electrical resistance (CER) at breast height were evaluated. Foliar putrescine, soluble sugars, and CER decreased, while starch increased in lime-treated trees. Changes in these indicators were correlated with tree growth and crown vitality, which improved in limed plots. However, they were more highly correlated with lime-induced changes in foliar and soil elements and soil pH. Putrescine, soluble sugars, and CER decreased and starch increased, as Ca and Mg and molar ratios of Ca/Al and Mg/Mn increased and as Al and Mn decreased in both soil and foliage, and as soil pH increased. Results showed the beneficial effect of lime on tree vitality that was not reflected in visual assessments of crown vitality and demonstrated the potential utility of these physiological and biochemical measures as indicators of vitality in sugar maple.Résumé : Une étude établie en 1985 dans le centre-nord de la Pennsylvanie pour déterminer les effets du chaulage sur le dépérissement de l'érable à sucre (Acer saccharum Marsh.) a été évaluée en 1993 et a montré que le chaulage avait un effet positif sur la croissance et la vitalité de la cime chez l'érable à sucre. L'effet du chaulage sur l'érable à sucre offrait une opportunité pour évaluer d'autres indicateurs de la vitalité des arbres et de leur réaction à l'addition de chaux. Les polyamines foliaires, l'amidon et les sucres solubles des tissus racinaires ainsi que la résistance électrique cambiale (REC) à hauteur de poitrine ont été évalués. La putrescine foliaire, les sucres solubles et la REC ont diminué tandis que l'amidon a augmenté chez les arbres traités à la chaux. Les changements dans ces indicateurs sont corrélés à la croissance des arbres et à la vitalité de la cime qui se sont améliorées dans les parcelles chaulées. Cependant, ils sont davantage corrélés aux changements dus à l'effet du chaulage sur les éléments minéraux dans les feuilles et le sol et sur le pH du sol. La putrescine, les sucres solubles et la REC ont diminué et l'amidon a augmenté avec l'augmentation du Ca, du Mg et du ratio molaire de Ca/Al et de Mg/Mn, la diminution de Al et de Mn dans le sol et le feuillage et l'augmentation du pH dans le sol. Les résultats montrent que l'effet bénéfique du chaulage sur la vitalité de la cime ne se reflétait pas dans l'évaluation visuelle de la vitalité de la cime. Ils démontrent également l'utilité potentielle de ces mesures physiologiques et biochimiques comme indicateurs de vitalité chez l'érable à sucre.[Traduit par la Rédaction] Wargo et al. 641

Assessment of sugar maple tree growth in relation to the partitioning of elements in xylem along a soil acidity gradient

“…It is in accordance with Duchesne et al (2002) who investigated sugar maple growth and similarly inferred that it was impaired by soil acidification, as well as with the various studies initially mentioned that related the decline of sugar maple forests with acidic depositions (McLaughlin et al, 1992;Ryan et al, 1994;Ouimet and Camiré, 1995;Ouimet et al, 1996;Watmough, 2002). It is also in agreement with the results from liming experiments (Long et al, 1997;Burke and Raynal, 1998;Moore et al, 2000;Wargo et al, 2002;Moore and Ouimet, 2006), or liming plus base cations fertilization (Wilmot et al, 1996), that resulted in improved maple growth and health.…”

Tree growth as indicator of tree vitality and of tree reaction to environmental stress: a review

“…Increased growth due to increased nitrogen depositions may also reduce the frost and drought resistance of trees (Jonsson et al 2004). However, other long-term studies on fertilizer experiments record increased growth and increased indicators of tree vitality in fertilized plots (Wargo et al 2002, Weetman et al 1997, Flu¨ckiger and Braun 1995, Filip et al 1992, Waring et al 1992, Proe et al 1992, Spiecker 1990). Spiecker (1990) found only a short-term growth stimulation for Norway spruce in the Black forest following one-time N fertilization, while Ca-and Ca+P-fertilization resulted in long-lasting growth increases.…”

Effects of nutrient addition on leaf chemistry, morphology, and photosynthetic capacity of three bog shrubs

“…Some of these metabolites, such as polyamines and amino acids, N-rich compounds essential for growth and development, in combination with chlorophyll and total soluble proteins have been used as indicators of environmental stress before the morphological symptoms of stress are visible (Näsholm et al 1994;Bauer et al 2004). PAs (speciWcally putrescine) and certain amino acids are indicative of the physiological response of forest trees to an array of environmental stress conditions, including a shortage of soil-available Ca, excess Al, and chronic N accumulation (Minocha et al 1997(Minocha et al , 2000Wargo et al 2002). It has been suggested that, under conditions of stress, PAs impart stress tolerance by lowering NH 3 toxicity and scavenging free radicals.…”