Ecological studies on the plants of fagaceae V. Growth in the sapling stage and minimal participation of reserve materials in the formation of annual new shoots of the evergreen Quercus glauca thunb

Abstract

The growth in the sapling stage and participation of reserve materials in the formation of annual new shoots were studied in the evergreen treeQuercus glauca. The growth and some allometric relationship were analyzed for 1-to 4-year-oldQ. glauca plants. Each individual was felled at the foot, or all the leaves were removed at the end of the growth season (December). Sprouts were formed on the remaining stump and new shoots were formed from winter buds under dark or light conditions. The dry weight of each plant part was measured before and afte,, the formation of these new shoots. The amount of reserve materials in each plant part was estimated from the difference in allometric relatationships before and after the formation of new shoots. Although the results showed that a small amount of reserve material existed in roots, the participation of reserve materials in the formation of annual new shoots was negligible inQ. glauca growing under usual conditions, and substrates for the formation of new shoots were derived from the products of photosynthesis in old leaves and developing new leaves. Some of the growth characteristics ofQ. glauca were compared with those of the deciduous speciesQuercus variabilis to explain ecological behavior of the two species in warmtemperate secondary forests.