The Seed Source-Environment Interaction: A Factor in Nursery Management

Abstract

The physiological condition of planting stock is an important criterion in plantation establishment and is related to seed origin, nursery or greenhouse environment, and conditions of storage and shipment. For the benefit of silvicultural planners and nurserymen, the genetic effects of seed origin are reviewed. Generally, seed sources from low latitudes and altitudes respond more slowly to warming temperatures in spring and declining length of day in autumn than sources from high latitudes and altitudes. If several sources are grown in the same nursery, there may be variation in phenology of root and shoot growth depending upon the distance of displacement from the place of seed origin to the nursery site. Such variation must be taken into account when plants are lifted, transplanted, fertilized and shipped, to apply treatments with maximum effect and attain a high percentage of field survival and rate of growth. Similarly, the temperature and day length requirements of different seed sources must be considered when designing optimum environments for container production. Displacement effects are not necessarily disadvantageous and have been beneficial in some cases, for example, when southern provenances were grown in northern nurseries with long days and mild fall climates. These effects should also be considered in the location of new nurseries.On doit serieusement tenir compte de la condition physiologique des semis lorsque I'on etablit une plantation.Cette condition est reliee a I'origine des graines, au milieu dans lequel se trouvait la pepinikre ou la serre, et aux conditions d'entreposage et de livraison. L'auteur decrit les effets genetiques de I'origine de graines, en vue d'aider les sylviculteurs et les pepinieristes. Sous les climats nordiques, la differentiation genetique des populations par rapport a la selection naturelle selon les temperatures et les photoperiodes se revele particulierement prononcee. De facon generale, les provenances des basses latitudes e t altitudes reagissent plus lentement que celles des hautes latitudes et altitudes vis-i-vis le rechauffement des temperatures au printemps et le raccourcissement des jours en automne. Si on fait pousser plusieurs provenances dans la mdme pepiniere, on pourrait constater de la variation dans la phenologie de la croissance des racines et des pousses selon la distance qui separe la pepiniere du lieu d'origine des graines. On doit tenir compte d'une telle variation lorsque les semis sont dechauss6s, transplantes, fer tilises et livres, en vue de les traiter le plus effectivement possible et d'atteindre un grand pourcentage de survie e t de taux de croissance sur le terrain. Dans le m6me ordre d'idee, on doit tenir compte des besoins des differentes provenances concernant la temperature et la longueur du jour pour choisir le milieu optimal de production de semis en potets. Les effets du deplacement ne sont pas necessairement mauvais; dans certains cas, ils furent bons, par exemple lorsque I'on f i t pousser des provenances meridionales da...

Genecology of 20 paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) provenances from British Columbia and northern Idaho.

“…This complex interaction between photoperiod and temperature has likely come about because for a given date, temperature can vary significantly from year to year whereas photoperiod is consistent; thereby constraining development in temperate and boreal plant species to 'safe periods' ( When populations of continental origin (Prince George) were compared with those of maritime origin (Prince Rupert), the order of bud flush followed a longitudinal or inverse continentality trend; continental populations bursting bud before maritime populations. This is because maritime provenances respond more slowly than continental provenances when brought to a continental site (Morgenstern 1976). These results are supported by Chmura and Rozkowski (2002) who determined that longitude of origin had the most significant impact on the timing of bud flush in Beech, with eastern or continental provenances of Beech flushing earlier than western or maritime provenances.…”

“…(Nienstaedt 1974), northern provenances flushed earlier than southern ones; with southern provenances requiring a greater accumulation of heat than northern ones (Baliuckas et al 1999). Further well known trends include high elevation and interior provenances flushing before low elevation and coastal provenances respectively when grown at a continental site (Morgenstern 1976;Chmura and Rozkowski 2002). This variation in bud flush has strong implications for survival.…”

“…The timing of bud flush is critical because it determines the beginning of the growing season and the probability of damage due to late spring frosts (Cannell and Smith 1986). Accordingly, the timing of bud burst is under strong genetic control (Nienstaedt 1974;Chmura and Rozkowski 2002) and is typically synchronized with air temperature at the site of origin (Morgenstern 1976;Hanninen 1991).…”