814 Pb 225 Adaptability of Elite Sycamore and Sweetgum Provenances to Field Nursery Production and Establishment Following Bare-Root Transplanting

Abstract

<jats:p>Growth and post-transplant establishment of half-sib seedlings from two elite sycamore <jats:italic>(Platanus occidentalis</jats:italic> L.) mother trees (Westvaco Corp.) and seedlings from a bulk seed lot from elite sweetgum <jats:italic>(Liquidambar styraciflua</jats:italic> L.) trees (Scott Paper Co.) were compared to that of seedlings from a native (Cookeville, TN) sycamore tree and a commercial source of sweetgum seeds. Seedlings were grown under standard field nursery conditions for two years, dug hare-root in autumn, and transplanted to another site to simulate landscape planting. Growth of elite seedlings during production was increased by 11 to 22% in height and 10 to 118 in caliper compared to that of conventional seed sources. Growth differences were maintained following transplanting. The primary lateral root number at transplanting was increased by 2 to 3 on elite sycamore seedlings compared to conventional seedlings. The number of pruning cuts required to eliminate multiple leaders tended to be less for elite seed sources. Survival did not differ among seed sources within a species.</jats:p>