Growth character responses of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) seedlings to nanotechnological fertiliser applications

This aim of this study was to assess the effect of container size and radicle pruning at the time sowing on seedling quality in Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.), which are among the preferred species in afforestation studies in arid and semi-arid regions in our country. In the study, some morphological (root collar diameter, height, shoot and root dry weight, shoot:root ratio, number of main roots, number of lateral roots, sturdiness ratio etc.) and physiological (shoot and root total carbohydrate content, root growing potential) characteristics were determined in 1+0 year old seedling grown in four different polybag sizes (11x22 cm, 12x25 cm, 14x35 cm and 18x30 cm) with or without radicle pruning. According to the results, the container size had significant effect on the seedling quality, except for the number of main roots and stem total carbohydrate content. The radicle pruning did not affect the shoot: root ratio, the number of lateral roots greater than 1 mm in diameter, the sturdiness quotient (seedling height:diameter ratio), the stem total carbohydrate content and the root growing potential. The root collar diameter, height, shoot dry weight, main, lateral and total root dry weight increased with increasing polybags size with radicle pruning. Radicle pruning increased number of main roots, but the root percentage and root total carbohydrate content were decreased. Seedling grown in the largest polybags had greater diameter, taller, heavier, higher the number of lateral branches and the number of lateral roots.

Sowing density is one of the most important factors influencing seedling quality. In forest nurseries, to ensure full seeding, it is recommended to obtain approximately 200 seedlings from 1 m2 (ZHL 2012). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of sowing density on sowing efficiency and the morphological features of pedunculate oak seedlings. Acorns were sown directly by broadcast seeding on 20 test plots, each 4 m in length, in four replications. The following variants were used:- 250acorns capable of germination totaling 341 acorns per 1 linear meter (0.9 m2);- 300 acorns capable of germination totaling 410 acorns per 1 linear meter (0.9 m2);- 350 acorns capable of germination totaling 478 acorns per 1 linear meter (0.9 m2);- 400 acorns capable of germination totaling 546 acorns per 1 linear meter (0.9 m2);- 450 acorns capable of germination totaling 614 acorns per 1 linear meter (0.9 m2). At the end of the growing season, seedlings were counted per 1 m (0.9 m2) in the central part of each plot. Sowing efficiency was determined as a percentage of seedling yield from the sown seeds. For laboratory analysis, 30 seedlings from each plot (600 in total) were collected. Based on biometric features like shoot height, root collar diameter, and dry weights of shoots, roots, and leaves, quality indicators such as the sturdiness quotient (SQ) and the Dickson quality index (DQI) were calculated. Sowing efficiency at the end of the vegetation season ranged between 39.68% and 50.12% and was not statistically significant. The research revealed that sowing density influenced seedling biometric characteristics. Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed significant negative correlations between the number of seedlings obtained in an experimental plot and the dry weight of the root, number and dry mass of leaves, as well as the DQI. The seedlings from all sowing variants complied with the binding Polish standard, outlined in the Regulation of the Minister for the Environment of 18 February 2004 (Ministerstwo Środowiska 2004) by over 96%. Keywords: seeding density, sowing rate, seedling quality, sowing performance, sturdiness quotient (SQ), Dickson quality index (DQI), Quercus robur L.

In this study, the effects of root undercutting, fertilization and thinning applications on the morphological characteristics of oriental beech seedlings grown in Karadağ Forest Nursery were investigated. In 2+0 years old seedlings, the effects of treatments including by making root undercutting and thinning (A) and by giving 50 g of ammonium nitrate fertilizer per m2 addition to thinning (B) in July were examined. Moreover, quality classes of seedlings were determined on the basis of treatments. According to the result of this study, significant differences were found between the morphological characteristics of the seedlings depending on the treatments. It was determined that while there is a statistical significance in terms of seedling length, sturdiness quotient, the number of side branches, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight, shoot dry weight/root dry weight, root percentage, Dickson quality index, there is no significance in terms of root collar diameter, fresh seedling weight, dry seedling weight in 2+0 years old seedlings. According to Turkish Standards Institute's deciduous seedling standard (TS 5624/21.03.1988) prepared in March 1988, 48.8% of A treatment and 76.7% of B treatment and 78.9% of the control group were found to be Class I. According to Dickson quality index, the quality index values of seedlings in 2+0 A, 2+0 B and control were determined as and 1.05, 0.74 and 0.68 respectively. In determination of Dickson quality index value, using of important parameters used for determination of seedling quality is important in terms of obtaining more accurate results.

The size of the container can affect the quality of the seedlings and, there is no recommendation of containers for the formation of flamboyant seedlings [Delonix regia (Bojerex Hook.) Raf]. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the production of flamboyant seedlings in different container sizes, besides performing trail analysis to identify the growth variables that characterize the quality of these seedlings. The experimental design was a randomized block design with seven container sizes (13 × 13 cm, 15 × 15 cm, 13 × 20 cm, 15 × 25 cm, 17 × 22 cm, 17 × 30 cm or 30 × 40 cm), with four replicates. Each experimental unit was composed of five containers, totaling 20 containers per treatment. The plant height, stem base diameter, number of leaves and the sturdiness quotient were measured at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days after emergence (DAE), and at 100 DAE were also measured the root volume, root dry matter, shoot dry matter, total dry matter, shoot/root dry matter ratio and Dickson quality index (DQI). The flamboyant seedlings have better grow when cultivated in polyethylene bags with size of 30 × 40 cm. The collar diameter, root volume, root dry matter, shoot dry matter and total dry matter are the most adequate variables to indicate the quality of flamboyant seedlings. However, because it is a rapid, simple and non-destructive measurement variable, the root collar diameter is more adequate to identify high-quality flamboyant seedlings.

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (Araucariaceae), commonly known as araucaria and Brazilian pine tree, can be grown for their edible pine nuts (pinhões), medicinal properties, and ornamental purposes. The aim was to assess the shoot and root growth and the overall quality of A. angustifolia seedlings grown in containers with different sizes, shapes and composition. Seeds were sowed in five containers: I – 126cm3 polypropylene cone-tainers (small cone-tainers); II – 290cm3 cone-tainers (large cone-tainers); III – 879cm3 polyethylene black bags; IV- 275 cm3 nonwoven fabric (TNT) containers (small TNT container) and; 493 cm3 nonwoven fabric (TNT) containers (large TNT container). Seedlings were evaluated 210 days after sowing, regarding the following variables: aboveground height (cm), root collar diameter (mm), shoot dry mass (g), roots dry mass (g), total dry mass (g), leaf area (cm2), roots area (cm2), roots volume (cm3), sturdiness quotient, root-shoot ratio and Dickson quality index. Height was superior for seedlings grown in the plastic bags (27.6 cm) and the large TNT containers (27.02 cm) when compared to the small and large cone-tainers (21.75 and 21.78 cm, respectively). Plastic bags also presented greater values of root-collar diameter, shoots, roots and total biomass and Dickson Quality index. Small and large TNT containers promoted lower root area and volume when compared to large polyethylene cone-tainers, but allowed for the same or better aboveground growth. Taking all results analyzed together, the polyethylene black bag promoted better growth and quality of Brazilian pine tree seedlings in comparison to the other containers.

The quality of planted forest crops depends significantly on the qualities of the planting stock. Numerous studies have been carried out to find clear seedling quality criteria and work out methods for their quantitative assessment to optimize the cultivation regime. Indicators of planting stock that are available for measurement under nursery conditions are needed to predict the success of forest crop establishment. This paper provides a review of the studies that applied different morphological criteria to evaluate coniferous planting stock quality and different determination methods. The suitability of planting stock quality indicators is determined by the effectiveness of predicting the outplanting survival rate (%) and growth. The key morphometric attributes of planting stock are the linear dimensions and biomass of whole seedlings and their individual organs: root collar diameter (RCD), seedling height (SH), dry mass of needles (NDM), stem (SBDM), roots (RDM), shoot/aboveground part of the seedling (SDM), seedling’s total dry matter (TDM), number of needles (NN). Effective indicators of seedling quality are morphometric indicators of roots: total length (TRL), volume (TRV), dry mass (RDM), number of first- (FOLR N), second- (SOLR N), and third-order (TOLR N) lateral roots, root surface area (TRS). TRL is a fairly reliable indicator of absorbent surface area. To minimize errors in the use of one or two traits, integrated seedling quality indices based on two or more indices have been developed. Widely used indices include: SQ = SH(cm)/RCD(mm); SDM/RDM ratio; Dickson quality index DQI = TDM/ ((SH / RCD) + (SDM / RDM)). RCD was the most suitable parameter to indicate seedling quality for many species due to its higher correlation level with the Dickson quality index. The SH index proved to be an effective indicator for analysis only when used together with RCD. When studying the formation of frost resistance, a number of morphological parameters are used: initiation of needle primordia, size of primordial shoots, cell volume, mitotic index (MI) of terminal primordia. Despite advances in testing planting stock quality and predicting field performance, not a single test is universally applicable for all woody plant species and environmental conditions. According to the target seedling concept, the application of morphometric criteria for assessing seedling quality in forest nurseries is a prerequisite for predicting outplanting success and maximizing the predictability of the outcomes of highproductivity forest crop planting. For citation: Robonen E.V., Chernobrovkina N.P., Egorova A.V., Zaitseva M.I., Nelaeva K.G. Morphometric Criteria for Assessing the Containerized Conifers Seedlings Quality. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 5, pp. 42–57. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-5-42-57

Survival of planted trees in Malawi is very low and this is attributed to many factors including the use of poor quality tree seedlings. A survey was conducted to assess the quality of tree seedlings produced by various nurseries. The survey covered 55 nurseries in four districts in central Malawi comprising 18 private, 26 communal and 11 institutional nurseries. A total of 1,500 tree seedlings were assessed for morphological attributes i.e. root collar diameter (RCD), height, root and shoot weight, shoot-to-root ratio (S:R), sturdiness quotient, Dickson’s Quality Index (DQI) and root deformity. Differences between the three nursery types were significant (p < 0.05) for some of the parameters. Overall, 33%, 58% and 67% of assessed seedlings in communal, institutional and private nurseries, respectively, had the recommended S:R ratio of less than 2, while for sturdiness quotient, 8%, 67%, and 58%, respectively, of the seedlings had less than the recommended threshold value of 6. A similar pattern was observed for RCD and DQI. Prevalence of root deformities was highest in institutional nurseries (47.5%), followed by private (45.5%) and communal nurseries had the lowest (42.6%). Given that all three nursery types have apparent, but sometimes different seedling quality issues, building knowledge and technical capacity is needed across all the nursery operators.

In this study we investigated the dynamics of growth and quality features of 1+0 Austrian Pine (AP; Pinus nigra Arn.), Scots Pine (SP; Pinus sylvestris L.) and Maritime Pine (MP; Pinus pinaster Aiton) seedlings in containers Yukosad (YS; hard plastic, 75cm3, 610 seedlings m-2) and Siset (SS; gray cardboard with white coating, 128 cm3, 589 seedlings m-2). The experiment, for all Pine species, was conducted in randomized blocks in four replications. Each replication contained 10 multipots of each container type. After the seed germination, every 15 days, i.e. 10 times during the vegetation season, 10 seedlings of each of 4 replications, i.e. 40 seedlings of each container and Pine species, were analyzed. The following morphological characteristics were measured: shoot height (SH), root collar diameter (RCD), shoot dry weight (SDW), number, length and dry weight (RDW) of I, II and III order lateral roots (FOLR, SOLR and TOLR) and of the central root. Quality ratios and indexes were calculated. The dynamics of growth of selected features during the vegetation season was expressed as trend lines. AP and SP seedlings, grown in containers YS had higher values of almost all measured traits (SH, RCD, SDW, number, length and dry weight of FOLR, SOLR and TOLR). However, in AP, the SS seedlings had better values of quality indexes and ratios (SQ, DQI, SDW/RDW and RDW/SDW ratio), than YS seedlings. SP seedlings, except for SQ, had better quality indexes in YS container. MP seedlings, with some exceptions, have better above ground quality features in SS containers, while root systems don’t differ significantly in both containers. Root quality indicators (root intensity and root bound indexes) are more favorable in SS containers in all Pine species. The polynomial trend lines in AP and SP grow in similar way and intensity in both containers, gradually increasing during the vegetation season. MP seedlings differ in much more intensive growth of above ground features, especially in the half of the vegetative period in both containers, while during this period root quantity and length stagnates. Generally, the quality of AP and SP seedlings is more or less equal and satisfactory in both containers, while MP seedlings show slightly better results in SS container.

Experiments were conducted employing six different types of sieve sizes of wire-mesh (5.8 mm2 or 3 square hole cm-2, 4 mm2 or 6 square hole cm-2, 3.3 mm2 or 9 square hole cm-2, 3 mm2 or 11 square hole cm-2, 2.5 mm2 or 16 square hole cm-2 and 2 mm2 or 24 square hole cm-2) for preparation of growing media to grow planting stock of four tropical broadleaved forestry species Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica and Pongamia pinnata in root trainers. Morphological (height and root collar diameter), biomass (shoot biomass, root biomass and total biomass) and seedling quality parameters (sturdiness quotient, root-shoot ratio, volume index and Dickson quality index) of the raised seedlings were recorded after four months of growth. Significant positive correlation of increase in sieve size of wire –mesh and combined biomass (r= 0.876, p &lt;0.05) and volume production (r= 0. 966, p &lt;0.01) in all the species was recorded. The sieve size of wire-mesh having 5.8 mm2 or 3 square hole cm-2 appeared to be the best for preparation of uniform growing media with appropriate physical structure to raise planting stock of Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica and Pongamia pinnata in root trainers.

The Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) is a species often used in afforestation/reforestation programs in Serbia and region. Seedlings quality has a great role in outplanting survival and growth. Nursery cultural practice has a central influence on seedlings morphological attributes, so we tested seedlings quality from different seedbed densities and seedlings patterns and their outplanting success. Two-year-old bareroot seedlings were grown in very high densities (110 seedlings m-1 in rows and 750 seedlings m-2 across all seedbed space) and high densities (65 seedlings m-1in rows and 450 seedlings m-2 across all seedbed space). Morphological attributes (root collar diameter - RCD, height - H, sturdiness coefficient - SQ, root length – Rl, dry weight of shoot - SDW and root - RDW, shoot to root ration - S:R and quality index - QI) of seedlings from different densities were tested in the nursery before outplanting and compare with seedlings survival and growth (root collar diameter – RCD1 and height – H1) one year after field growing. Seedlings from different densities had accepted RCD (&gt;3 mm) for field planting and there were significant differences in their morphological attributes, except Rl and S:R. The best survival was recorded at seedlings from highest seedbed densities (93.33%), opposite with many previous researches. Seedlings grown across all seedbed space (450 seedlings per m-2) keep their advantage in growth after first year, although survival was lowest (46.67%).

Bu çalışmada, İzmir/Torbalı orman fidanlığında yetiştirilen fıstıkçamı (Pinus pinea L.), palamut meşesi (Quercus ithaburensis Decne subsp. macrolepis (Kotschy) Hedge &amp;amp; Yalt.) ve saçlı meşe (Quercus cerris L.) fidanlarının fidan kalite özellikleri belirlenmiştir. Bu amaçla, rastgele seçilen 2+0 yaşlı, 12x22.5 cm ebatlı polietilen torbalarda yetiştirilen fıstıkçamı, palamut meşesi ve saçlı meşe fidanları temin edilmiştir. Her bir türün, fidan boyu (cm), kök boğazı çapı (mm), gövde ve kök taze ağırlığı (g), gövde ve kök kuru ağırlığı ölçülmüştür. Ayrıca fidan boyu/kök boğazı çapı oranı, gövde/kök kuru ağırlık oranı, Dickson kalite indeksi hesaplanmıştır. Fıstıkçamının ortalama fidan boyu 21.02 (cm), kök boğazı çapı 5.4 (mm), fidan boyu/kök boğazı çapı oranı 39.11, gövde/kök kuru ağırlık oranı 1.05, Dickson kalite indeksi 0.15 bulunmuştur. Palamut meşesinin ortalama fidan boyu 20.6 (cm), kök boğazı çapı 5.8 (mm), fidan boyu/kök boğazı çapı oranı 36.84, gövde/kök kuru ağırlık oranı 0.41, Dickson kalite indeksi 015 bulunmuştur. Saçlı meşenin ortalama fidan boyu 9.85 (cm), kök boğazı çapı 4.3 (mm), fidan boyu/kök boğazı çapı oranı 23.79, gövde/kök kuru ağırlık oranı 0.19, Dickson kalite indeksi 0.2 bulunmuştur. Fidanların kalite sınıfları Türk Standartları Enstitüsü (TSE)’nün “iğne yapraklı ağaç fidanları” (TS 2265, 1988) ve “yapraklı orman ağacı fidanları” (TS 5624, 1988) standartlarına göre değerlendirilmiştir. TS 2265 iğne yapraklı ağaç fidanı standardında belirtilen fidan boyu, çap ve gövde/kök kuru ağırlık oranı kriterleri birlikte değerlendirildiğinde fıstıkçamı fidanlarının % 97.06’sı I. sınıf, % 2.94’ü II. sınıfta yer almıştır. Yapraklı orman ağacı fidan standardında belirtilen en az boy ve kök boğazı çapı nitelikleri birlikte değerlendirildiğinde; palamut meşesi fidanlarının % 97.06’sı standart altı, % 2.94’ü II. sınıf bulunmuştur. Bu standart da belirtilen en az boy ve kök boğazı çapı nitelikleri birlikte değerlendirildiğinde; saçlı meşesi fidanlarının boyları standartta belirtilen boy değerlerinin altında kaldığı için standart altı olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca ağaç türlerinin kuraklığa karşı dayanıklılığı ve zarar durumlarının görsel tespiti yapılmıştır. Bu sınıflandırmaya göre; saçlı meşe iyi, fıstıkçamı ve palamut meşesi zayıf sınıfta yer almıştır.

Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) seedlings are frequently used for afforestation/reforestation and restoration practice in Serbia. Indeed, the seedlings of various stock types are produced by almost all forest nurseries in Serbia and bareroot seedlings are mostly common. The aim of this study is to analyze the method of sowing and sowing density on some morphological characteristics and quality of one-year-old Austrian pine seedlings. Sowing in rows and random sowing across all seedbed space were performed. In both cases, the sowing density (R1 - 8 g m-1, R2 - 40 g m-2) and half of the recommended sowing density (S1 - 4 g m-1, S2 - 20 g m-2) were applied. Seedlings from both treatments had average height and root collar diameter values in the range of 4.91 to 5.73 cm, and 1.25 to 2.34 mm, respectively. Observed characteristics of seedlings (height - H, root collar diameter - RCD, root length - RL, dry weight of shoot - SDW, root - RDW and seedlings - SLDW, sturdiness coefficient - SQ and quality index - QI) were conditioned by treatment (One-Way ANOVA, p&lt;0.05). Shoot to root ration was similar at seedlings of all treatments and ranged from 1.33 to 1.63. In both cases, decreased density produced better results. The combination of lower sowing density (20 g m-2) and sowing in all seedbed areas (S2) provided the best seedlings with QI - 0.21.

The quality of acclimatized in vitro cultivated plants is essential to ensure good survival and growth after planting in field conditions. After two months of acclimatization, this study revealed a significant variation in survival rate, shoot characteristics, root traits, and biomass features between 13 clones of Melia volkensii Gürke. A number of quality indices such as the Dickson Quality Index (DQI), shoot dry weight: root dry weight ratio (S:R), and sturdiness quotient (SQ) also showed a large variation. The survival rate was genotype-dependent, with an average of 85%. Extreme genotypes were tall, had long internodes, a lot of leaves, and a large leaf area. At the other side of the spectrum, there were small clones with short internodes and a reduced number of leaves and leaf areas. The high S:R values (&gt;2) of the evaluated clones indicate an imbalance between the shoot and root system, negatively influencing the quality of the in vitro produced M. volkensii plants. The SQ for all clones was below the threshold value of 6, implying a good and expected survival rate. This study illustrates that some clones might systematically score better for SQ, S:R, plant volume, and DQI after acclimatization and that these factors could form the basis for selection.

The quality of forest crops significantly depends on the characteristics of the planting stock. To obtain high-quality conifer seedlings, the process of container cultivation is used and optimized and a double-cropping mode is introduced. The aim of this study has been to conduct a comparative analysis of one-year-old containerized seedlings of Pinus sylvestris L. according to morphometric parameters under a double-cropping regime under short growing season conditions at high latitudes. The experiment has been carried out in a forest nursery in southern Karelia, Russia. The duration of the first rotation (1rot) has been 146 days, the second one (2rot) – 91 days, the control one (0rot) – 132 days. The following parameters of seedlings have been determined: seedling height (SH, cm), root length (cm), bud length (mm), root collar diameter (RCD, mm), tree dry mass (TDM, g), shoot dry mass (SDM, g), root dry mass (RDM, g) and needle dry mass. The integral quality indices have been assessed, such as: shoot : root dry mass ratio (SRR) = SDM/RDM, sturdiness quotient (SQ) = SH(cm)/RCD(mm) and Dickson Quality Index (DQI) = TDM/(SH + SRR). The lowest values of seedling dry mass have been revealed in the 2rot variant. For all variants, the difference between the mean SQ and DQI values has been statistically significant at the p &lt; 0.05 level. SRR was the lowest in the 1rot seedlings. The high correlation coefficients between the TDM and RCD for all variants confirm the high significance of the latter index. The results indicate the need to adjust the time regime and use additional agricultural practices to obtain high-quality planting stock.

The quantity and quality of seedlings in the nursery has an impact on the success of re-establishment and later growth. High germination rates enable a sufficient number of seedlings, and their quality is assessed using a number of parameters, including seedling height and root collar diameter. These parameters are influenced in some species by seed size, but the correlation between them is species-specific. The model species in this research was sweet chestnut (Castaneasativa Mill.), and seeds from 12 populations from two distinct biogeographical regions of Croatia were collected. We examined the influence of seed size on four parameters: germination rate, seedling height, root collar diameter and sturdiness quotient. Seed size has been shown to have a positive influence on both seedling height and root collar diameter, whereas no such correlation was noted for germination rate and sturdiness quotient. Significant differences in nut size and seedling growth parameters were found between the Mediterranean and continental populations, with higher values observed in the coastal Mediterranean populations. We concluded that seed origin and seed size have a significant impact on seedling growth and are important factors to consider when choosing seed material. Further nursery operations should consider seed origin and local environmental conditions when choosing seedlings for reforestation efforts and general forest operations.