Juniperusoccidentalis juvenile foliage: advantages and disadvantages for a stress-tolerant, invasive conifer

Abstract

Physiological processes for juvenile and adult foliage of Juniperusoccidentalis Hook. were compared to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of juvenile foliage for a stress-tolerant, invasive conifer. Above- and below-ground biomass allocation and monthly measurements (April through October) of gas exchange, water relations, foliar nitrogen concentrations, and growth were made for juvenile and small-adult trees in the field in central Oregon. Compared with small adults, juveniles have greater allocations to foliage and fine-root biomass, higher rates of CO2 assimilation, leaf conductance, and transpiration, and lower investments of biomass and nitrogen per unit of foliar area. Juvenile foliage is less costly to produce than adult foliage. The suite of physiological processes associated with juvenile awl-like foliage should enhance establishment and early growth of J. occidentalis. However, high rates of water loss, which are associated with high rates of CO2 assimilation of juvenile foliage, appear to be a liability for large trees in the semiarid environment of eastern Oregon. Once established, the transition to a more conservative use of resources associated with adult scale-like foliage is consistent with the stress-tolerant strategy of long-lived evergreen trees.