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Does ice crystal formation in buds explain growth disturbances in boron-deficient Norway spruce?

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Abstract

Loss of apical dominance in boron-deficient trees has been suggested to be due to frost damage of terminal buds and leaders. Excessive nitrogen (N) supply can exacerbate boron (B) deficiency by the dilution-effect. N may also have direct effects on winter hardiness. We studied frost hardening of buds of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) in healthy-looking trees and in trees with growth disturbances. The effect of B and N on frost hardiness was studied in a factorial fertilisation experiment during cold acclimation. Frost hardiness was determined by differential temperature analysis (DTA) and scoring of visual damage. In a DTA profile of apical buds with a piece of stem, low-temperature exotherm (LTE) predicted bud injury, while two of the observed high-temperature exotherms and two of the observed intermediate-temperature exotherms were non injurious. Appearance of LTE followed changes in air temperature. The risk of frost damage was not affected by fertilisation treatments or previously observed growth disturbances. However, when the bud structure was deformed by severe B deficiency, the supercooling ability disappeared. Such buds are probably killed by freezing in nature and therefore, frost damage may play a secondary role in the development of growth disturbances.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Rauni Oksman and Merja Essell for help in laboratory and Marja Kuskelin, Martti Vuorinen and Lauri Nykänen for help with fieldwork. This study was funded by the Academy of Finland (Decision no. 206898), Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Mikko Räisänen & Tarja Lehto

  2. Joensuu Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 68, FIN-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Tapani Repo

  3. Suonenjoki Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Juntintie 40, 77600, Suonenjoki, Finland

    Risto Rikala

Authors
  1. Mikko Räisänen
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  2. Tapani Repo
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  3. Risto Rikala
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  4. Tarja Lehto
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Correspondence to Mikko Räisänen.

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Communicated by E. Beck

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Räisänen, M., Repo, T., Rikala, R. et al. Does ice crystal formation in buds explain growth disturbances in boron-deficient Norway spruce?. Trees 20, 441–448 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-006-0059-1

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