Abstract
Half-sib seed of several eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) families was used to examine seed mass effects on laboratory germination, and seedling emergence and growth under moderate and low light (47 and 13% full sunlight) in a greenhouse. Percent germination and speed of germination under laboratory conditions were not related to seed mass among half-sib families or multi-family seedlots bulked by seed mass. Percent seedling emergence in the greenhouse was not related to seed mass, but families with heavier seeds exhibited faster emergence. Both rate and percent emergence were significantly increased under low light. Family differences in leaf, stem, root, and total seedling dry mass, primary root length, and the number of first-order-lateral-roots were positively related to seed mass in both light environments. Low light diminished the absolute biomass increment per unit seed mass, but the proportional change in biomass with seed mass was similar between light environments. Rate of emergence also influenced seedling size within families, with earlier emergence increasing seedling dry mass from 7 to 58%, dependent on light environment. Biomass partitioning coefficients were influenced by light environment but largely independent of seed mass.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
V.L. Anderson R.A. McLean (1974) Design of Experiments. A Realistic Approach Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York
H.I. Baldwin (1942) Forest Tree Seed of the North Temperate Regions with Special Reference to North America Chronica Botanica Co. Waltham
J.P. Barnett (1976) ArticleTitleDelayed germination of southern pine seeds related to seed coat constraint Can. J. For. Res. 6 504–510
J.P. Barnett (1997) ArticleTitleRelating pine seed coat characteristics to speed of germination, geographic variation, and seedling development Tree Planters’ Notes 48 IssueID1/2 38–42
C. Bonfil (1998) ArticleTitleThe effects of seed sizecotyledon reserves, and herbivory on seedling survival and growth in Quercus rugosa Q. laurina (Fagaceae) Am. J. Bot. 85 79–87 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2446557
F.T. Bonner (1987) Importance of seed size in germination and seedling growth S.K. Kamra R.D. Ayling (Eds) Proc. IUFRO Intern. Symp. on Forest Seed Problems in Africa Dept. For. Genet. Plant Physiol Uppsala 53–61
D. Burgess S. Wetzel (2000) ArticleTitleNutrient availability and regeneration response after partial cutting and site preparation in eastern white pine For. Ecol. Manage. 138 249–261 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00400-X
C.D. Canham A.R. Berkowitz V.R. Kelly G.M. Lovett S.V. Ollinger J. Schnurr (1996) ArticleTitleBiomass allocation and multiple resource limitation in tree seedlings Can. J. For. Res. 26 1521–1530
R.K. Campbell S.M. Ritland (1982) ArticleTitleRegulation of seed-germination timing by moist chilling in western hemlock New Phytol. 92 173–182 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1469-8137.1982.tb03374.x
T.J. Carleton P.F. Maycock R. Arnup A.M. Gordon (1996) ArticleTitleIn situ regeneration of Pinus strobus and P. resinosa in the Great Lakes forest communities of Canada J. Veg. Sci. 7 431–444 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3236287
F.J. Czabator (1962) ArticleTitleGermination value: an index combining speed and completeness of pine seed germination For. Sci. 8 386–396
M.E. Demeritt SuffixJr. H.W. Hocker SuffixJr. (1975) Influence of seed weight on early development of eastern white pine P.W. Garrett (Eds) Proc 22nd Northeastern Forest Tree Improve Conf. State Univ. of New York. College of Environ. Sci. and For. Syracuse 130–137
R.W. Dolan (1984) ArticleTitleThe effect of seed size and maternal source on individual size in a population of Ludwigia leptocarpa (Onagraceae) Am. J. Bot. 71 1302–1307 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2443655
M. Dovčiak P.B. Reich L.E. Frelich (2003) ArticleTitleSeed rain, safe sites, competing vegetation, and soil resources spatially structure white pine regeneration and recruitment Can. J. For. Res. 33 1892–1904 Occurrence Handle10.1139/x03-115
R.K. Dumroese D.L. Wenny (1987) ArticleTitleSowing sized seed of western white pine in a containerized nursery West. J. Appl. For. 2 128–130
J.R. Dunlap J.P. Barnett (1983) ArticleTitleInfluence of seed size on germination and early development of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) germinants Can. J. For. Res. 13 40–44
D.G.W. Edwards (1980) ArticleTitleMaturity and quality of tree seeds – a state-of-the-art review Seed Sci. Technol. 8 625–657
C. Ehrenberg Å. Gustafsson C. Plym Forshell M. Simak (1955) ArticleTitleSeed quality and the principles of forest genetics Hereditas 41 291–366 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1601-5223.1955.tb02998.x
R.E. Farmer (1997) Seed Ecophysiology of Temperate and Boreal Zone Forest Trees St. Lucie Press Delray Beach
L.E. Frelich (2002) Forest Dynamics and Disturbance Regimes Cambridge University Press Cambridge
J.B. Genys (1968) ArticleTitleGeographic variation in eastern white pine. Two-year results of testing range-wide collections in Maryland Silv. Genet. 17 6–12
S.A. Glantz (1992) Primer of Biostatistics EditionNumber3 McGraw-Hill, Inc. New York
Graber R.E. 1968. Planting siteshade& local seed source: Their effects on the emergence & survival of eastern white pine seedlings. USDA For. Serv., Res. Pap. NE-94.
A.R. Griffin (1972) ArticleTitleThe effects of seed sizegermination time and sowing density on seedling development in radiata pine Aust. J. For. Res. 5 25–28
J.W. Groninger J.R. Seiler J.A. Peterson R.E. Kreh (1996) ArticleTitleGrowth and photosynthetic responses of four Virginia Piedmont tree species to shade Tree Physiol. 16 773–778 Occurrence Handle14871684
Heinselman M.L. 1981. Fire intensity and frequency as factors in the distribution and structure of northern ecosystems. In: Mooney H.A., Bonnicksen T.M., Christensen N.L., Lotan J.E. and Reiners W.A. (eds), Fire Regimes and Ecosystem Properties. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-26 pp. 7–57.
D.G. Herr L.C. Duchesne R.J. Reader (1999) ArticleTitleEffects of organic mattermoistureshading and ash on white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedling emergence New For. 18 219–230
R.J. Hoff (1987) ArticleTitleDormancy in Pinus monticola seed related to stratification timeseed coatand genetics Can. J. For. Res. 17 294–298
C. Houssard J. Escarré (1991) ArticleTitleThe effects of seed weight on growth and competitive ability of Rumex acetosella from two successional old fields Oecologia 86 236–242 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00317536
D.H. Janzen (1977) ArticleTitleVariation in seed size within a crop of a Costa Rican Micuna andreana (Leguminosae) Am. J. Bot. 64 347–349 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2441978
R.H. Jones B.P. Allen R.R. Sharitz (1997) ArticleTitleWhy do earlier-emerging tree seedlings have survival advantages?: a test using Acer rubrum (Aceraceae) Am. J. Bot. 84 1714–1718 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2446470
E. Khurana S. Singh (2000) ArticleTitleInfluence of seed size on seedling growth of Albizia procera under different soil water levels Ann. Bot. 86 1185–1192 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.2000.1288
R.K. Kobe S.W. Pacala J.A. Silander SuffixJr. C.D. Canham (1995) ArticleTitleJuvenile tree survivorship as a component of shade tolerance Ecol. Appl. 5 517–532
M.M. Larson (1963) ArticleTitleInitial root development of ponderosa pine seedlings as related to germination date and size of seed For. Sci. 9 456–460
R. Levins (1969) ArticleTitleDormancy as an adaptive strategy Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 23 1–10 Occurrence Handle5392106 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE3c%2FptFKmtA%3D%3D
K.T. Logan (1966) Growth of tree seedlings as affected by light intensity. II. Red pinewhite pinejack pine and eastern larch Can. Dept. For. Publ. 1160 Ottawa
M.A. McGinley D.H. Temme M.A. Geber (1987) ArticleTitleParental investment in offspring in variable environments: theoretical and empirical considerations Am. Nat. 130 370–398 Occurrence Handle10.1086/284716
C. Messier P. Puttonen (1995) ArticleTitleSpatial and temporal variations in the light environment of developing Scots pine stands: the basis for a quick and efficient method of characterizing light Can. J. For. Res. 25 343–354
Mitchell H.L. 1939. The growth and nutrition of white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedlings in cultures with varying nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium with observations on the relation of seed weight to seedling yield. The Black Rock Forest Bull. No. 9, Cornwall-on-the-Hudson.
J. Neter W. Wasserman (1974) Applied Linear Statistical Models Richard D. Irwin, Inc. Homewood
Noland T.L., Parker W.C. and Morneault A.E. 2006. Natural variation in seed characteristics of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). New For. 32: 87–103.
B.M. O’Connell M.J. Kelty (1994) ArticleTitleCrown architecture of understory and open-grown white pine (Pinus strobus L.) saplings Tree Physiol. 14 89–102 Occurrence Handle14967636
W.C. Parker T.L. Noland A.E. Morneault (2004) ArticleTitleThe effect of seed mass on early seedling growth of five eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) families under contrasting light environments Can. J. Bot. 82 1645–1655 Occurrence Handle10.1139/b04-129
S.S. Pauley S.H. Spurr F.W. Whitmore (1955) ArticleTitleSeed source trials of eastern white pine For. Sci. 1 244–256
H. Paz M. Martínez-Ramos (2003) ArticleTitleSeed mass and seedling performance within eight species of Psychotria (Rubiaceae) Ecology 84 439–450
F. Pinto (1992) Silvicultural practices in Ontario's white pine forests R.A. Stine (Eds) White Pine Symp. Proc., History, Ecology, Policy and Management Univ. of Minnesota St. Paul 170–178
P.B. Reich J. Oleksyn M.J. Tjoelker (1994) ArticleTitleSeed mass effects on germination and growth of diverse European Scots pine populations Can. J. For. Res. 24 306–320
P.B. Reich M.J. Tjoelker M.B. Walters D.W. Vanderklein C. Buschena (1998) ArticleTitleClose association of RGR, leaf and root morphology, seed mass and shade tolerance in seedlings of nine boreal tree species grown in high and low light Funct. Ecol. 12 327–338 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00208.x
F.I. Righter (1945) ArticleTitlePinus: the relationship of seed size to inherent vigor J. For. 43 131–137
R. Sarvas (1962) ArticleTitleInvestigations on the flowering and seed crop of Pinus silvestris Comm. Inst. For. Fenn. 53 1–198
W.R. Sayward (1975) Some cone and seed relationships for eastern white pine for the 1971 and 1973 seed years from the University of New Hampshire breeding arboretum P.W. Garrett (Eds) Proc. 22nd Northeastern Forest Tree Improve Conf. State Univ. of New York, Coll. Environ. Sci. and For. Syracuse 34–40
C.S. Schopmeyer (1974) Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States USDA For. Serv Washington, DC
K. Seiwa (1997) ArticleTitleVariable regeneration behavior of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica in response to disturbance regime for risk spreading Seed Sci. Res. 7 195–207 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0960258500003536
K. Seiwa (1998) ArticleTitleAdvantages of early germination for growth and survival of seedlings of Acer mono under different overstorey phenologies in deciduous broad-leaved forests J. Ecol. 86 219–228 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2745.1998.00245.x
K. Seiwa (2000) ArticleTitleEffects of seed size and emergence time on tree seedling establishment: importance of developmental constraints Oecologia 123 208–215 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420051007
M. Simak (1980) X-radiography in research and testing of forest tree seeds Swed. Univ. Agric. Sci. Dept. Silv. Umea
S.H. Spurr (1944) ArticleTitleEffect of seed weight and seed origin on the early development of eastern white pine J. Arnold Arbor. 25 467–481
S.E. Surles T.L. White G.R. Hodge M.L. Duryea (1993) ArticleTitleRelationships among seed weight components, seedling growth traits, and predicted field breeding values in slash pine Can. J. For. Res. 23 1550–1556
P.A. Thomas R.W. Wein (1985) ArticleTitleThe influence of shelter and the hypothetical effect of fire severity on the postfire establishment of conifers from seed Can. J. For. Res. 15 148–155
A.J. Thomson Y.A. El-Kassaby (1993) ArticleTitleInterpretation of seed parameters New For. 7 123–132
Trimble G.R. and Tryon E.H. 1969. Survival and growth of yellow-poplar seedlings depend on date of germination. USDA For. Serv., Res. Note NE-101.
R.S. Tripathi M.L. Khan (1990) ArticleTitleEffects of seed weight and microsite characteristics on germination and seedling fitness in two species of Quercus in a subtropical wet hill forest Oikos 57 289–296
G. Vaughton M. Ramsey (2001) ArticleTitleRelationships between seed mass, seed nutrients, and seedling growth in Banksiana cunninghamii (Proteacea) Int. J. Plant Sci. 162 599–606 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktFyktL8%3D Occurrence Handle10.1086/320133
Z.M. Wang M.J. Lechowicz C. Potvin (1995) ArticleTitleResponses of black spruce seedlings to simulated present versus future seedbed environments Can. J. For. Res. 25 545–554
G.W. Wendel H.C. Smith (1990) Pinus strobus L: Eastern White Pine R.M. Burns B.H. Honkala (Eds) (Tech coords), Silvics of North America NumberInSeriesVol. 1 Conifers, USDA Agric Handbk No 654 Washington, DC 476–488
J.B. Wilson (1988) ArticleTitleThe effect of initial advantage on the course of plant competition Oikos 51 19–24
J.W. Wright (1945) ArticleTitleInfluence of size and portion of cone on seed weight in eastern white pine J. For. 43 817–819
R.A. Wright R.W. Wein B.P. Dancik (1992) ArticleTitlePopulation differentiation in seedling root size between adjacent jack pine stands For. Sci. 38 777–785
W. Wrzeœniewski (1982) ArticleTitlePhysiology of Scots pine seedlings grown from seed of different weight. III. Differentiation of seedling growth during the first growing season Acta Physiol. Planta. 4 139–151
R.D. Wulff (1986) ArticleTitleSeed size variation in Desmodium paniculatum II. Effects on seedling growth and physiological performance J. Ecol. 74 99–114 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2260351
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Parker, W.C., Noland, T.L. & Morneault, A.E. The Effects of Seed Mass on Germination, Seedling Emergence, and Early Seedling Growth of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L.). New Forest 32, 33–49 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-005-3391-1
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-005-3391-1