Application of monochromatic blue light during germination and hypocotyl development improves outplanted Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees performance

Abstract

Light quality has been recognized as an important factor to enhance plant production and quality, and it is extensively used in horticulture. Conifer seedlings are also known to respond to light quality, which can serve as a mean to improve seedling quality during its nursery production. We conducted a novel study regarding the effect of three monochromatic (blue, red and far-red) and white light treatments during germination and hypocotyl development in Scots pine seedlings which had an impact on the quantitative morphological attributes of shoot, root, fibre dimensions, survival and lignin content, after long-term transplantation in natural conditions. Our approach is a proxy to the effect of nursery light treatments on seedling performance following its post-planting establishment in the forest. Our study conducted during three growing seasons, reveals that monochromatic blue light applied at nursery significantly improved the outplanted Scots pine trees quality. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Scots pine; Pinus sylvestris L.; Light quality; Long-term transplantation; Morphological traits; Growth; Survival; Biomass; Fibre length; Lignin content

Published in

Forest Ecology and Management
2016, Volume: 361, pages: 368-374 Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Ranade, Sonali

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Garcia Gil, Rosario

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.11.034

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/82891