Light reduction and moisture stress: effects on growth and water relations of western larch seedlings

Abstract

Ten-week-old western larch (Larixoccidentalis Nutt.) seedlings were grown in a greenhouse under 70, 37, and 27% full sunlight from late July to early October. In August, seedlings under each light treatment were repetitively water stressed until predawn leaf water potential (Bψ1) reached one of three levels: no stress (> −0.4 MPa), moderate stress (−0.7 to −1.0 MPa), and severe stress (−1.5 to −1.8 MPa). Moisture stressing significantly reduced height and diameter of seedlings grown under 70% light. Light reduction reduced shoot and root biomass accumulation. A positive linear relation was found between root dry weight and light intensity. The largest seedlings (on a weight basis) received the highest light, were unstressed, and had the lowest shoot/root ratios. Terminal bud set was not affected by light reduction or moisture stressing but occurred under a 14-h photoperiod and reduced nighttime temperatures. Stressed and shaded seedlings had significantly reduced diurnal K1 and stress-cycled seedlings showed an adjustment to stressing. The K1 of unstressed seedlings was correlated with humidity deficit (ABHD), and K1 of stressed seedlings, with Bψ1, and ABHD. Maximum K1 declined with decreasing Bψ1, but not to a level indicating complete stomatal closure.