The Effects of Seed Mass on Germination, Seedling Emergence, and Early Seedling Growth of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L.)

Abstract

Half-sib seed of several eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) families was used to examine seed mass effects on laboratory germination, and seedling emergence and growth under moderate and low light (47 and 13% full sunlight) in a greenhouse. Percent germination and speed of germination under laboratory conditions were not related to seed mass among half-sib families or multi-family seedlots bulked by seed mass. Percent seedling emergence in the greenhouse was not related to seed mass, but families with heavier seeds exhibited faster emergence. Both rate and percent emergence were significantly increased under low light. Family differences in leaf, stem, root, and total seedling dry mass, primary root length, and the number of first-order-lateral-roots were positively related to seed mass in both light environments. Low light diminished the absolute biomass increment per unit seed mass, but the proportional change in biomass with seed mass was similar between light environments. Rate of emergence also influenced seedling size within families, with earlier emergence increasing seedling dry mass from 7 to 58%, dependent on light environment. Biomass partitioning coefficients were influenced by light environment but largely independent of seed mass.