Fine root electrolyte leakage and moisture content: indices of Sitka spruce and Douglas-fir seedling performance after desiccation

Abstract

In spring 1992, 2-year-old bare-rooted seedlings of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were exposed for 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 3 h in a controlled environment room at 20°C. Plants were desiccated in batches during February and March; 100 seedlings of each species were planted in 5 20-plant plots at each of 6 planting sites using the normal planting times and methods of each area. The effect of exposure was assessed within 24 h of desiccation on a subsample of plants by measuring fine root moisture content and electrolyte leakage and, in a limited number of cases, needle water potential. These measures were related to survival and growth after the first and second growing seasons.