Seasonal changes in the macro- and micro-nutrient composition of ovulate strobili and seeds of Pinus resinosa

Abstract

Seasonal changes in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, B, Cu, Zn, Mn, Na, and Al of first- and second-year ovulate strobili and developing seeds of Pinus resinosa Ait. were investigated. During the first year, the major macronutrients moved steadily into developing strobili. Nitrogen and P accumulated in high amounts and Ca and Mg in low amounts. Micronutrients also moved into strobili throughout the first year as did Na and Al.The seasonal pattern of uptake and accumulation of nutrients during the second year of strobilus development differed from the first-year pattern. During the period of rapid growth of strobili following fertilization, macro- and micro-nutrients continued to move into cone tissue. However, movement of Mn into strobili stopped abruptly during mid-June when strobili reached maximum size. Beginning in mid-July, N, P, and K began moving out of maturing strobili. Other macro- and micro-nutrients continued to accumulate in strobili during the entire second year.At the same time that mature strobili were beginning to senesce, N, P, K, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Fe rapidly moved into developing seeds. Nitrogen particularly accumulated in high concentrations. Senescing cone tissue appeared to supply much of the N, P, and K that was translocated into seeds. Calcium was present in very low concentrations in seeds whereas Na accumulated in high amounts. Aluminum did not move into seeds after fertilization occurred.

The role of insects in the dynamics of cone production of red pine

“…Dickman and Kozlowski (1969b) have shown that early in their development (June), red pine cones have the highest concentrations of such important macroand micro-nutrients as N, P, K, Mn and Cu, Concentrations of these elements rapidly decrease as the cones grow.…”

Reproductive ecology and allometry of red pine (Pinus resinosa) at the northwestern limit of its distribution range in Manitoba, Canada

“…The reproductive biology of red pine has been thoroughly documented (Lyons 1956;Duff and Nolan 1958;Mirov 1967;Dickmann and Kozlowski 1969a, 1969b, 1969c. Optimum cone production occurs between 50 and 150 years, but a few ovulate cones may be formed on trees as young as 5 years (Rudolf 1990).…”

Effects of artificial environmental conditions on anatomical and physiological ripening of Pinus sylvestris L. seeds

“…It tØereØore seems tØat, under certaØn cØrcum-stances, anatomØcal rØpenØnØ can proceed aØter tØe cones Øave been detacØed Ørom tØe tree, and tØat tØere are dØØØerences between conØØer specØes Øn tØØs respect . AccordØnØ to DØckmann and KozlowskØ (1969), tØe amount oØ nØtroØen Øn PØnus resØnosa AØt . seeds rapØdly Øncreases durØnØ rØpenØnØ untØl seed dry weØØØt reacØes Øts maxØmum .…”

“…It may also be necessary to ØØnd a substØtute Øor tØe Øormonal (Kermode et al . 1989) and nutrØent (DØckmann and KozlowskØ 1969 ;1970) ØunctØons oØ tØe motØer tree.In a prelØmØnary ØnvestØØatØon (SaØlen and BerØsten 1993), Øt was concluded tØat not only temperature but also lØØØt, cone moØsture content and rØpenØnØ tØme Øad an eØØect on seed qualØty aØter artØØØcØal rØpenØnØ oØ Scots pØne seeds. TØe pØotoperØodØc condØtØons to wØØcØ tØe motØer plant Øs exposed are known to ØnØluence seed development oØ many specØes (e .Ø .…”

“…It may also be necessary to ØØnd a substØtute Øor tØe Øormonal (Kermode et al . 1989) and nutrØent (DØckmann and KozlowskØ 1969 ;1970) ØunctØons oØ tØe motØer tree.…”