Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought
In Northern Europe, an increase in heterogeneity of summer precipitation regime will subject forests to water deficit and drought. This is particularly topical for Norway spruce (<i>Picea abies</i> Karst.), which is a drought sensitive, yet economically important species. Nevertheless, l...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/82 |
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| author | Roberts Matisons Oskars Krišāns Āris Jansons Toms Kondratovičs Didzis Elferts Gederts Ievinsh |
| author_facet | Roberts Matisons Oskars Krišāns Āris Jansons Toms Kondratovičs Didzis Elferts Gederts Ievinsh |
| author_sort | Roberts Matisons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Northern Europe, an increase in heterogeneity of summer precipitation regime will subject forests to water deficit and drought. This is particularly topical for Norway spruce (<i>Picea abies</i> Karst.), which is a drought sensitive, yet economically important species. Nevertheless, local populations still might be highly plastic and tolerant, supporting their commercial application. Accordingly, the tolerance of Norway spruce seedlings from an Eastern Baltic provenance (western part of Latvia) to artificial drought according to soil type was assessed in a shelter experiment. To simulate drought, seedlings were subjected to reduced amounts (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of naturally occurring precipitation (irrigation intensity). Three soil types (oligotrophic mineral, mesotrophic mineral, and peat) were tested. Seedling height, chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentration, and fluorescence parameters were measured. Both growth and photochemical reactions were affected by the irrigation intensity, the effect of which experienced an interacted with soil type, implying complex controls of drought sensitivity. Seedlings were more sensitive to irrigation intensity on mesotrophic mineral soil, as suggested by growth and photosynthetic activity. However, the responses were nonlinear, as the highest performance (growth and fluorescence parameters) of seedlings occurred in response to intermediate drought. On peat soil, which had the highest water-bearing capacity, an inverse response to irrigation intensity was observed. In general, fluorescence parameters were more sensitive and showed more immediate reaction to soil water deficit than concentration of chlorophyll on mesotrophic mineral and peat soils, while the latter was a better indicator of seedling performance on oligotrophic soil. This indicated considerable plastic acclimation and hence tolerance of seedlings from the local Norway spruce population to drought, though drought sensitivity is age-dependent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:50:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7023dc30489f4dbb82b86c201df3b36e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:50:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-7023dc30489f4dbb82b86c201df3b36e2023-12-03T13:10:28ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-01-011218210.3390/f12010082Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated DroughtRoberts Matisons0Oskars Krišāns1Āris Jansons2Toms Kondratovičs3Didzis Elferts4Gederts Ievinsh5Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas str., LV-2169 Salaspils, LatviaLatvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas str., LV-2169 Salaspils, LatviaLatvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas str., LV-2169 Salaspils, LatviaLatvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas str., LV-2169 Salaspils, LatviaLatvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas str., LV-2169 Salaspils, LatviaFaculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas str. 1, LV-1010 Riga, LatviaIn Northern Europe, an increase in heterogeneity of summer precipitation regime will subject forests to water deficit and drought. This is particularly topical for Norway spruce (<i>Picea abies</i> Karst.), which is a drought sensitive, yet economically important species. Nevertheless, local populations still might be highly plastic and tolerant, supporting their commercial application. Accordingly, the tolerance of Norway spruce seedlings from an Eastern Baltic provenance (western part of Latvia) to artificial drought according to soil type was assessed in a shelter experiment. To simulate drought, seedlings were subjected to reduced amounts (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of naturally occurring precipitation (irrigation intensity). Three soil types (oligotrophic mineral, mesotrophic mineral, and peat) were tested. Seedling height, chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentration, and fluorescence parameters were measured. Both growth and photochemical reactions were affected by the irrigation intensity, the effect of which experienced an interacted with soil type, implying complex controls of drought sensitivity. Seedlings were more sensitive to irrigation intensity on mesotrophic mineral soil, as suggested by growth and photosynthetic activity. However, the responses were nonlinear, as the highest performance (growth and fluorescence parameters) of seedlings occurred in response to intermediate drought. On peat soil, which had the highest water-bearing capacity, an inverse response to irrigation intensity was observed. In general, fluorescence parameters were more sensitive and showed more immediate reaction to soil water deficit than concentration of chlorophyll on mesotrophic mineral and peat soils, while the latter was a better indicator of seedling performance on oligotrophic soil. This indicated considerable plastic acclimation and hence tolerance of seedlings from the local Norway spruce population to drought, though drought sensitivity is age-dependent.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/82<i>Picea abies</i>intra-annual height growthirrigation manipulationlocal tree populationphotosynthetic activity |
| spellingShingle | Roberts Matisons Oskars Krišāns Āris Jansons Toms Kondratovičs Didzis Elferts Gederts Ievinsh Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought Forests <i>Picea abies</i> intra-annual height growth irrigation manipulation local tree population photosynthetic activity |
| title | Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought |
| title_full | Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought |
| title_fullStr | Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought |
| title_full_unstemmed | Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought |
| title_short | Norway Spruce Seedlings from an Eastern Baltic Provenance Show Tolerance to Simulated Drought |
| title_sort | norway spruce seedlings from an eastern baltic provenance show tolerance to simulated drought |
| topic | <i>Picea abies</i> intra-annual height growth irrigation manipulation local tree population photosynthetic activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/82 |
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