Winter dormancy in seedlings of mountain beech (Nothofagus solandrivar.cliffortioides) near timber line

Abstract

Abstract Seedlings of Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides were collected near timber line in the Craigieburn Range, South Island, New Zealand, during winter and spring, and placed in temperatures capable of promoting growth. Buds of most first-year seedlings opened between 10 and 25 days after treatment commenced, irrespective of the date of their collection. Among older seedlings, those collected at the end of May were deeply dormant and lens than half of them had commenced growth within 40 days, whereas those collected at later dates showed progressively more rapid response to warm temperatures. Half of the older seedlings collected at the end of September became active within 22 days. Buds of adult trees also showed deep winter dormancy.