The effect of moderate moisture and nutrient stress on bud formation and growth of container-grown white spruce seedlings

Abstract

Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss seedlings were grown in controlled environment rooms following germination with a combination of fluorescent and incandescent lamps (ratio, 1.4:1) providing 390 μmol s−1 m−2 of photosynthetically active radiation over a 24-h photoperiod. Moderate moisture and nutrient stress treatments were applied to separate seedling groups (10 weeks from germination) for a 2-week period during the initial free growth phase when mean seedling shoot length had reached 12 cm. Photoperiod was then reduced to 8 h. Both periodic moisture stress (reaching −1.72 MPa) and nutrient withdrawal (N, P, K) were effective in inducing terminal bud formation in container-grown white spruce seedlings under nonlimiting photoperiod and the number of needle primordia subsequently formed in the terminal bud under short days was significantly reduced. However, decreased needle complements in the stressed seedlings did not result in reduced shoot growth in the second growing season. Free growth following extension of the preformed shoot compensated for the reduced amount of predetermined foliage.