Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Seed Mass on Germination, Seedling Emergence, and Early Seedling Growth of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L.)

  • Published:
New Forests Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

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

    Google Scholar 

  • H.I. Baldwin (1942) Forest Tree Seed of the North Temperate Regions with Special Reference to North America Chronica Botanica Co. Waltham

    Google Scholar 

  • J.P. Barnett (1976) ArticleTitleDelayed germination of southern pine seeds related to seed coat constraint Can. J. For. Res. 6 504–510

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F.J. Czabator (1962) ArticleTitleGermination value: an index combining speed and completeness of pine seed germination For. Sci. 8 386–396

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • D.G.W. Edwards (1980) ArticleTitleMaturity and quality of tree seeds – a state-of-the-art review Seed Sci. Technol. 8 625–657

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.E. Farmer (1997) Seed Ecophysiology of Temperate and Boreal Zone Forest Trees St. Lucie Press Delray Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • L.E. Frelich (2002) Forest Dynamics and Disturbance Regimes Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • S.A. Glantz (1992) Primer of Biostatistics EditionNumber3 McGraw-Hill, Inc. New York

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • R.J. Hoff (1987) ArticleTitleDormancy in Pinus monticola seed related to stratification timeseed coatand genetics Can. J. For. Res. 17 294–298

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Pauley S.H. Spurr F.W. Whitmore (1955) ArticleTitleSeed source trials of eastern white pine For. Sci. 1 244–256

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Paz M. Martínez-Ramos (2003) ArticleTitleSeed mass and seedling performance within eight species of Psychotria (Rubiaceae) Ecology 84 439–450

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F.I. Righter (1945) ArticleTitlePinus: the relationship of seed size to inherent vigor J. For. 43 131–137

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Sarvas (1962) ArticleTitleInvestigations on the flowering and seed crop of Pinus silvestris Comm. Inst. For. Fenn. 53 1–198

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • C.S. Schopmeyer (1974) Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States USDA For. Serv Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Simak (1980) X-radiography in research and testing of forest tree seeds Swed. Univ. Agric. Sci. Dept. Silv. Umea

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • A.J. Thomson Y.A. El-Kassaby (1993) ArticleTitleInterpretation of seed parameters New For. 7 123–132

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • J.B. Wilson (1988) ArticleTitleThe effect of initial advantage on the course of plant competition Oikos 51 19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • J.W. Wright (1945) ArticleTitleInfluence of size and portion of cone on seed weight in eastern white pine J. For. 43 817–819

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Forest Research Institute, 1235 Queen St. E., Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, Canada

    William C. Parker & Thomas L. Noland

  2. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Forest Research and Development Section, 3301 Trout Lake Rd., North Bay, ON, P1A 4L7, Canada

    Andrée E. Morneault

Authors
  1. William C. Parker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas L. Noland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrée E. Morneault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William C. Parker.

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-005-3391-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation