Autumn Colors Research Articles

Management Method of Planted Plants and Immigration Plants through Monitoring on Wildflower Garden - Case Study on Seoul Samgaksan Elementary School -

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between planted plants and immigration plants by monitoring the wildflower garden constructed at Seoul Samgaksan Elementary School. The results of this study are as follows: First, plants planted in the garden 32 taxa, except for weakened only 1 taxa (Clematis patens), the remaining plants maintained or increased their populations. Among maintained Plants, that did not volume growth were 6 taxa and volume growth on the spot were 5 taxa. 15 taxa were spread around the planting area and 5 taxa spread sporadically to unpredictable areas other than the planting area. Although most of the planted plants show good growth, no special management is required, but Lonicera japonica needs the density management that cuts off the stem in the early spring and 5 sporadically spreading taxa, the planting intent of garden is attenuated, so remove the root when new leaves come out in spring. Second, the total number of plants transferred after 2 years of wildflower garden constructed were 83 taxa total, which is 2.6 times that of planted plants. The seed disseminule form was analyzed as 52% barochory, 27% anemochory&hydrochory, 16% autochory and 5% zoochory. Also about 43% of the transferred plants were estimated to been imported from soil seed bank. Third, we classified immigration plants into largely native plants and naturalized plants. The native plants were transferred to more than naturalized plants: 65 native plants, 1 cultivated plants and 17 (22%) naturalized plants. The results of the monitoring of the rooftop garden ‘Choroktteul’ in Seoul City Hall showed that there were differences in the type and number of the immigration plants depending on the distance and quality of the surrounding greenery. Fourth, the management method of immigration plants is divided into three categories: elimination, transplantation, and utilization. The 39 taxa were selected for the elimination: Invasive alien plants among naturalized plants, fast spreading plants, plants that expand sideways with rhizomes, and plants that interfere with the growth of planted plants: grow to over 1 meter in height and climbing plant. The elimination period should be dry, clear, windy day, remove the root without any residue. The transplanted plants are 18 taxa, tree, plants not suitable for habitat, and in elementary school textbooks. It is a group of 26 taxa which are used in the garden: for landscape that plants have ornamental values (flowers, leaves, and autumn colors etc.) but do not attenuate the intent of the garden, and for groundcover that plants have low plant height and fast spread. It is also possible to prevent immigration plants when you are mulching or planting plants densely populated areas when making a garden. Key words: density management, plants management method, seed distribution type, quality of surrounding green space

Linking Spaceborne and Ground Observations of Autumn Foliage Senescence in Southern Québec, Canada

Autumn senescence progresses over several weeks during which leaves change their colors. The onset of leaf coloring and its progression have environmental and economic consequences, however, very few efforts have been devoted to monitoring regional foliage color change in autumn using remote sensing imagery. This study aimed to monitor the progression of autumn phenology using satellite remote sensing across a region in Southern Québec, Canada, where phenological observations are frequently performed in autumn across a large number of sites, and to evaluate the satellite retrievals against these in-situ observations. We used a temporally-normalized time-series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) extracted from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery to monitor the different phases of autumn foliage during 2011–2015, and compared the results with ground observations from 38 locations. Since the NDVI time-series is separately normalized per pixel, the outcome is a time-series of foliage coloration status that is independent of the land cover. The results show a significant correlation between the timing of peak autumn coloration to elevation and latitude, but not to longitude, and suggest that temperature is likely a main driver of variation in autumn foliage progression. The interannual coloration phase differences for MODIS retrievals are larger than for ground observations, but most ground site observations correlate significantly with MODIS retrievals. The mean absolute error for the timing of all foliage phases is smaller than the frequency of both ground observation reports and the frequency of the MODIS NDVI time-series, and therefore considered acceptable. Despite this, the observations at four of the ground sites did not correspond well with the MODIS retrievals, and therefore we conclude that further methodological refinements to improve the quality of the time series are required for MODIS spatial monitoring of autumn phenology over Québec to be operationally employed in a reliable manner.

Competitive success of southern populations of Betula pendula and Sorbus aucuparia under simulated southern climate experiment in the subarctic.

Global warming has been commonly accepted to facilitate species’ range shifts across latitudes. Cross‐latitudinal transplantations support this; many tree species can well adapt to new geographical areas. However, these studies fail to capture species’ adaptations to new light environment because the experiments were not designed to explicitly separate species’ responses to light and temperature. Here we tested reaction norms of tree seedlings in reciprocal transplantations 1,000 km apart from each other at two latitudes (60°N and 69°N). In contrast to past studies, we exposed our experimental plants to same temperature in both sites (temperature of 60°N growing site is recorded to adjust temperature of 69°N site in real time via Internet connection) while light environment (photoperiod, light quality) remained ambient. Shoot elongation and autumn coloration were studied in seedlings of two deciduous trees (Betula pendula and Sorbus aucuparia), which were expected to respond differently to day length. Sorbus as a member of Rosaceae family was assumed to be indifferent to photoperiod, while Betula responds strongly to day length. We hypothesized that (1) southern and northern populations of both species perform differently; (2) southern populations perform better in both sites; (3) autumn phenology of southern populations may delay in the northern site; (4) and Sorbus aucuparia is less dependent on light environment. According to the hypotheses, shoot elongation of northern population was inherently low in both species. An evolutionary consequence of this may be a competitive success of southern populations under warming climate. Southern population of B. pendula was delayed in autumn coloration, but not in growth cessation. Sorbus aucuparia was less responsive to light environment. The results suggest that light provides selection pressure in range shifts, but the response is species dependent.

Local-scale adaptation to climate change: the village flower festival

Plant tourism, for example to view flower displays or autumn colours, is a worldwide industry worth billions of US dollars annually. Climate change has been modifying the timings of many of these plant events, but there is little evidence of adaptation to meet this challenge. Here I show that a local-scale festival attracting thousands of people annually has advanced its timing by more than 3 wk over 46 yr. This short paper represents one of the first solid pieces of evidence of adaptation in flower tourism. I believe that these events represent a neglected source of data for confirming responses to a changing climate and, worldwide, it is likely that festivals can provide numerous such examples.

The effects of temperature and drought on autumnal senescence and leaf shed in apple under warm, east mediterranean climate

Autumnal senescence of apple in a warm climate corresponds to accumulated degree-days beneath 22 °C. Summer drought delays senescence and enables replenishment of carbohydrate reserves. Recovery of the root system plays a key role. Autumnal senescence of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), a deciduous, temperate climate species, is triggered by a rather abrupt temperature drop, down to the lower teens. Under the warmer, east Mediterranean climate of northern Israel, the temperature drop is gradual and much more moderate. Another characteristic of this climate is the complete lack of precipitation during summer. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of summer drought on seasonal leaf senescence in a warm autumn. We hypothesized that summer drought delays senescence due to an increased demand for carbohydrates during autumn. The advent of autumnal senescence was followed for 3 years (2009–2011) on trees exposed to various levels of drought. Total canopy green area (effective leaf area, ELA) and hue angle were estimated periodically by means of image analysis, as a measure of leaf drop and autumnal color change. Photosynthesis, midday stem water potential, and roots’ non-structural carbohydrate contents were measured on several occasions. The time course of leaf drop followed the decline in air and soil temperatures. The rate of decline in ELA closely corresponded to accumulated degree-days beneath 22 °C in the soil, a much higher temperature threshold than previously reported for apple. Drought stress during the summer delayed leaf senescence even further, when compared with well-irrigated trees. Leaves maintained their photosynthetic functionality throughout autumn, until late December. The delayed senescence enabled replenishment of root carbohydrate reserves, which is critical for next year’s growth and fruiting. The eco-physiological significance of the findings is discussed.

First report of collar and root rot caused by Phytophthora hedraiandra on Viburnum in the UK

Viburnum is a popular shrub grown mainly for its flowers, fragrance, berries, autumn colour, and it is also used as a hedge. In 2011, samples of Viburnum showing symptoms of collar and root rot collected in North Yorkshire (RHS166247) were…

Bud set and autumn coloration of Larix sibirica and Larix gmelinii provenances in a field trial in southern Finland

The main aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the bud set, autumn coloration and needle shedding of seedlings in 20 Russian larch provenances and five comparison entries in field conditions in southern Finland over two growing seasons. Furthermore, it was studied if the differences could be explained by the geographic and climatic conditions of the provenance origins. We found that the provenances from cold northern climates developed both their terminal buds first and formed autumn colour as well as shed their needles much earlier than southern provenances. The timing of the bud set occurred earlier in 2008 compared to 2009, which was probably caused by lower than average temperatures in July and August of 2008. Thus, in addition to photoperiod, temperature also seemed to affect the bud set. The southern Dahurian larch provenances were able to utilise the length of the growing season the most effectively. The climatic adaptation, growth and properties of the provenances should be, however, studied over a longer time period. Therefore, currently used Raivola origin is still the safest choice for larch forestry in Finland.

Simulated herbivory advances autumn phenology in Acer rubrum

To determine the degree to which herbivory contributes to phenotypic variation in autumn phenology for deciduous trees, red maple (Acer rubrum) branches were subjected to low and high levels of simulated herbivory and surveyed at the end of the season to assess abscission and degree of autumn coloration. Overall, branches with simulated herbivory abscised ∼7 % more leaves at each autumn survey date than did control branches within trees. While branches subjected to high levels of damage showed advanced phenology, abscission rates did not differ from those of undamaged branches within trees because heavy damage induced earlier leaf loss on adjacent branch nodes in this treatment. Damaged branches had greater proportions of leaf area colored than undamaged branches within trees, having twice the amount of leaf area colored at the onset of autumn and having ~16 % greater leaf area colored in late October when nearly all leaves were colored. When senescence was scored as the percent of all leaves abscised and/or colored, branches in both treatments reached peak senescence earlier than did control branches within trees: dates of 50 % senescence occurred 2.5 days earlier for low herbivory branches and 9.7 days earlier for branches with high levels of simulated damage. These advanced rates are of the same time length as reported delays in autumn senescence and advances in spring onset due to climate warming. Thus, results suggest that should insect damage increase as a consequence of climate change, it may offset a lengthening of leaf life spans in some tree species.

The invasive ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus exerts maximal infection pressure prior to the onset of host leaf senescence

Shoot dieback disease of European ash caused by the ascomycete Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus threatens ash on a continental scale. A spore sampler placed in a diseased ash forest in Southern Norway, coupled with microscopy and DNA-based fungal species-specific real-time PCR assays, was employed to profile diurnal and within-season variation in infection pressure by ascospores of H. pseudoalbidus and the potentially co-existing non-pathogenic Hymenoscyphus albidus. Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus was found to be predominant in the stand. Massive simultaneous liberation, by active discharge of pathogen ascospores in the morning, peaked in mid-Jul. to mid-Aug. Accumulation of pathogen DNA on leaflets of current-year leaves reached a high level plateau phase before appearance of autumn coloration, suggesting that pathogen establishment in leaves is terminated before the onset of leaf senescence.

Phenology of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along the altitudinal gradient in Slovakia (Inner Western Carpathians)

The onset and course of selected vegetative phenological phases of beech along the altitudinal gradient in Slovak Republic were studied. Observations were done in the Burda Mts. (200–300 m a.s.l.), Kremnické vrchy Mts. (500 m a.s.l.) and in the Poľana Mts. (900–1,000 m a.s.l., 1,200–1,400 m a.s.l.). Selected spring phenological phases (budburst and leaf unfolding) as well as autumn phenological phases (autumn colouring and leaf fall) were investigated over the period of 5 years (2007–2011). The earliest onset of spring phenological phases during the period of study was found at the lowest-lying sites in the Burda Mts. By contrast, the latest one was observed at the uppermost site in the Poľana Mts. The dynamics of autumn phenological phases had the opposite course compared to spring phenophases. The earliest onset, observed in the uppermost locality in the Poľana Mts., was gradually delayed with decreasing altitude. The phenological gradient, expressing a shift in the onset of spring phenophases along the gradient, reached the mean values of 2.83–3.00 days per 100 m of an increase in altitude. In the case of autumn phenological phases the gradient ranged from –1.00 to –1.78 days per 100 m. On average, the growing season of beech lasted from 128 to 181 days along the altitudinal gradient. Significant correlations (P < 0.001) were calculated between the date of the onset of phenophases and altitude.   

Predicting Climate Change Impacts on the Amount and Duration of Autumn Colors in a New England Forest

Climate change affects the phenology of many species. As temperature and precipitation are thought to control autumn color change in temperate deciduous trees, it is possible that climate change might also affect the phenology of autumn colors. Using long-term data for eight tree species in a New England hardwood forest, we show that the timing and cumulative amount of autumn color are correlated with variation in temperature and precipitation at specific times of the year. A phenological model driven by accumulated cold degree-days and photoperiod reproduces most of the interspecific and interannual variability in the timing of autumn colors. We use this process-oriented model to predict changes in the phenology of autumn colors to 2099, showing that, while responses vary among species, climate change under standard IPCC projections will lead to an overall increase in the amount of autumn colors for most species.

Fenološke faze dreves na ploskvah intenzivnega monitoringa gozdnih ekosistemov v Sloveniji

Study of developmental stages of forest trees in a long time series is of increasing importance for determination of interdependence between meteorological variables and the associated biological responses. In our study we analyzed the needle appearance and leaf unfolding of conifers and deciduous trees and the autumn colouring for broad-leaved tree species. We considered the phenological phases for oak (Quercus robur L.) in research plots Krakovski gozd and Murska šuma, beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in research plots Lontovž, Temenjak, Borovec, Fondek, Gorica; spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in research plots Kladje and Krucmanove Konte; Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the research plot Brdo, black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) in the research plot Gropajski bori. On average, the needle appearance (BGS) of spruce started on the 166th Julian day. BGS of Scotch pine started on the 128th Julian Day, BGS of black pine on the 149th Julian day, respectively. The leaf unfolding (BGS) for beech started, on average, on the 128th Julian day and BGS for oak on the 117th Julian day, respectively. The autumn colouring(EGS) for beech, on average, started on the 297th Julian day, for oak on the 308th Julian day. It was assessed that BGS possibly commenced earlier for spruce, Scotch pine and black pine in all research plots during the 2004 to 2011 period. However, earlier BGS for beech and oak was noticed only in limited number of pots. Later EGS for beech could be confirmed in only two plots (Borovec in Gorica), whereas changes in EGS for oak were later only in plot Murska Šuma. There was a large variability of LGS for beech and oak over the years. Prolonged growing season (LGS) of beech was statistically significant for 3 plots (Fondek, Borovec in Gorica) during the 2004 to 2011 period. For oak prolonged LGS was not statistically significant during the observation period.

Growth rhythm, height growth and survival of Russian larch (Larix Mill.) provenances in greenhouse and field conditions in Finland

The aim of this study was to analyse the growth rhythm, height growth and survival of seedlings of 20 Russian larch (Larix Mill.) provenances and five comparison entries in sowing year in greenhouse conditions and in field conditions in southern (Punkaharju 61°49′N, 29°19′E) and northern (Kivalo 66°19′N, 26°38′E) Finland after third and fourth growing seasons. Geographic and climatic conditions of the origins were used to explain the differences between the provenances. In the sowing year in greenhouse, latitude explained 74% of the length of the growing period. In the field in Punkaharju, the northern Siberian larches (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) had the earliest bud burst and the Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) provenances slightly earlier onset of height growth. The temperature sum and latitude of the provenances explained the differences in shoot elongation. After four growing seasons in the field northern provenances had the best survival and height growth in Kivalo. Survival did not differ significantly between provenances in Punkaharju field experiment. The southern Dahurian larches had a superior height growth in Punkaharju and they had least mammal damages. In Punkaharju, the growth cessation was affected by photoperiod and possibly by declining temperatures in autumn. Provenances from cold northern climates developed their terminal buds first. They also formed autumn colouring and shed their needles earlier than more southern provenances. Dahurian larches showed potential in height growth and ability to utilize the length of the growing season effectively in Punkaharju. They also seemed to have, on average, smaller amount of mammal damages. Despite this, the currently used Siberian larch of Raivola origin is still the safest choice for larch forestry in whole Finland in terms of adaptation to climate. Further studies are needed still on the potential offered by different species and provenances (and their hybrids) to generalize the findings of this work.

Plant–animal communication

There are numerous excellent books about plant–pollinator and plant–herbivore interactions, and books about plant defence, but none of these covers the process of communication between plants and animals as comprehensively as this volume. The authors define communication as occuring ‘if traits of the sender stimulate the sensory systems of the receiver in such a way as to cause a change in the behaviour of the receiver’. In most cases the signal – visual, olfactory, gustatory or acoustic – is released by the plant. The focus in this book is on olfactory and visual signals. In addition, the authors give examples of how insects can detect plant quality just by walking on it and sensing the taste with gustatory sensors in their legs. Acoustic communication is exemplified by the noise of fruit falling into water, where fruit-feeding fish are alerted to this food source, eat the fruit and subsequently disperse seeds. Acoustic communication is also linked to bat-pollinated plants, which have mirror-like structures in their flowers to strongly reflect bat echolocation calls back to the sender. The authors have taken an evolutionary ecological approach, setting the key questions of whether communication between plants and animals is primarily adaptive or whether it is a by-product of other selective pressures. The book has eleven chapters, including ones on animal sensory ecology and biochemistry, animals as seed dispersers, visual and non-visual fruit traits, floral communication and pollination, plant crypsis, aposematism and mimicry, chemical communication between plants and herbivores, and sensory aspects of carnivorous plants. Chapter 7 is devoted to the potential for leaf colouration to communicate to animals. When the evolutionary biologist W. D. Hamilton and colleagues presented the co-evolutionary theory to explain the autumn colouration of temperate tree foliage, it stimulated research on leaf colouration and provoked a rather heated debate between supporters and critics. Theory suggests that intensity of colouration is a signal revealing the defensive commitment of the individual plant, and autumn-migrating insects use this signal to select less-defended plants. Of the book's authors, Schaefer has shown a critical attitude towards the autumn leaf co-evolution hypothesis in his earlier publications, but the review and analysis of the issue in this book is very balanced. The authors suggest more choice trials to test the hypothesis and to assess different selective pressures that might contribute to the relationship between leaf colouration and insect choice. The four-page colour plates in the book give good examples of visual communication. The illustration of functional camouflage, showing how differently coloured, folivorous insects can take advantage of the variable colours of leaf venation when positioned on leaves, is particularly educational. The redrawn black and white figures are clear and informative throughout the book. The book covers most of the aspects related to biological communication between plants and animals, particularly in terrestrial ecosystems. As the ecosystems of our planet are facing extremely rapid changes due to human activity, the impacts of environmental disturbance on plant–animal communication ought to have deserved its own chapter, or better treatment in the future perspectives section of each chapter. Changes in plant–animal interactions are considered one of the most sensitive indicators of environmental and climatic change, and the change is often attributed to a dramatic decline in communication. A good example is the function of plant scents as long-distance communication signals in ecological communities, with essential roles in a range of interactions. These molecules display sensitivity to present-day atmospheric pollutants resulting in much faster degradation of molecular structure and shorter communication ranges than in pre-industrial atmospheres (e.g. McFrederick et al., 2009). When this loss of communication by long-distance olfactory signals is combined with the current trend for faster fragmentation of the natural habitats of many plant and animal species, we may better understand ecologically important trends such as the swift decline of pollinators across the world. Perhaps the next edition of this book could discuss if evolution of plant–animal communication is fast enough to respond to this anthropogenic challenge. Otherwise, the authors have put together an excellent book on communication, ranging from sensory ecology to plant physiology, evolution and the behavioural sciences. For researchers it will give a critical synthesis of the current literature in the diverse field of biological communication research. For students it will be an excellent source of information for advanced courses related to botany, zoology, pollination biology, evolution and ecology.

Prerequisites for evolution: variation and selection in yellow autumn birch leaves

Prerequisites for evolution: variation and selection in yellow autumn birch leaves

Genotypic variation in yellow autumn leaf colours explains aphid load in silver birch

• It has been suggested that autumn-migrating insects drive the evolution of autumn leaf colours. However, evidence of genetic variation in autumn leaf colours in natural tree populations and the link between the genetic variation and herbivore abundances has been lacking. • Here, we measured the size of the whole aphid community and the development of green-yellow leaf colours in six replicate trees of 19 silver birch (Betula pendula) genotypes at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of autumn colouration. We also calculated the difference between green leaf and leaf litter nitrogen (N) and estimated the changes in phloem sap N loading. • Autumn leaf colouration had significant genetic variation. During the last survey, genotypes that expressed the strongest leaf reflectance 2-4 wk earlier had an abundance of egg-laying Euceraphis betulae females. Surprisingly, the aphid community size during the first surveys explained N loss by the litter of different birch genotypes. • Our results are the first evidence at the tree intrapopulation genotypic level that autumn-migrating pests have the potential to drive the evolution of autumn leaf colours. They also stress the importance of recognizing the role of late-season tree-insect interactions in the evolution of herbivory resistance.

Colophons, reception, and Chinese painting

Focusing on a case study of Zhao Mengfu’s Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains of 1295, this essay argues that colophons, the texts inscribed onto Chinese paintings by historical beholders, operate as focalizers offerings points of entry to the implicit beholder. The resulting aesthetic experience is less a dialogical encounter between artwork and beholder, and more a process of locating one’s affiliations in the time-space of an expanding web of social relationships expressed in the painting and the practice of writing on painting.

Spring versus autumn leaf colours: Evidence for different selective agents and evolution in various species and floras

Red colouration is common in young and old leaves of broadleaf woody species. Assuming that leaf colours are adaptive, we examined, by comparing the colouration in young versus old leaves, the possibility that different selection agents may have operated on spring versus autumn leaf colouration. We observed spring versus autumn colouration in three very different woody floras (Finland, Japan and Israel) in order to allow for a broad ecological and evolutionary spectrum. The null hypothesis was that if the same selective agents operated in spring and autumn, it is expected that when spring leaves are red, they should always be red in autumn, and when spring leaves are green, they should be green or yellow in autumn. We found that green spring leaves are almost exclusively associated with yellow leaf colour at senescence in autumn. Species with red autumn leaves almost always have at least some red colouration in their spring leaves. However, about half of the species with red spring leaves have yellow autumn leaves. Brown autumn leaves were not common in the species we studied. As about half of the species with red spring leaves have yellow autumn leaves but not vice versa, we conclude that there are many cases in which the selecting agents for spring versus autumn leaf colour were not the same.

Freezing Tolerance and Seasonal Color of Experimental Zoysiagrasses

ABSTRACTMeyer zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) is the most widely used cultivar in the transition zone of the United States due, in part, to its excellent freezing tolerance. Ten zoysiagrass progeny from crosses between Z. matrella (L.) Merr. × Z. japonica or ‘Emerald’ [Z. japonica × Z. matrella (L.) Merr. var. pacifica Goudswaard] × Meyer, ‘Cavalier’ (Z. matrella), and DALZ 0102 (Z. japonica) were evaluated for (i) freezing tolerance, (ii) autumn and spring color, and (iii) a relationship between autumn color and freezing tolerance. Turfgrass cores were sampled from the field near Manhattan, KS, in October, December, or February and exposed to temperatures from −6 to −22°C in the laboratory. Lethal temperatures resulting in death of 50% of tillers (LT50) after 6 wk of recovery in the greenhouse ranged from −0.2 C to −12.2°C. All grasses were equivalent to Meyer in freezing tolerance except Cavalier on three of five sampling dates and one Z. matrella × Z. japonica progeny in December 2007, which were inferior to Meyer. Digital image analysis indicated that five progeny were superior to Meyer in autumn green color retention, but none were superior to Meyer in spring green color. Autumn color in 2007 was positively correlated (r = 0.40 to 0.58, p ≤ 0.05) with LT50 in December 2007. However, autumn color was also positively correlated with color the following spring (r = 0.31 to 0.72). These progeny demonstrated good freezing tolerance and, in some cases, superior autumn color compared to Meyer.

Increasing survival and growth of Scots pine seedlings with selection based on autumn coloration

This study evaluates the possibility of using autumn coloration of young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings as an indicator of adaptation to harsh climate conditions. One-year old seedlings from natural stands with different origins and seed orchards were classified as “red/reddish” and “green” based on the needle color after artificially increased night length in nursery and then measured after 14 years in field trials. In almost all the studied groups seedlings classified as “red/reddish” had significantly higher survival rate than seedlings classified as “green”. The survival of “red/reddish” was 14.2% higher than “green” among natural stand seed material and 56.2% among seed orchard material. During the study period the survival difference between “red/reddish” and “green” seedlings tended to increase. The seedling color had limited connection with the height growth, even though the trees classified as “red/reddish” were slightly taller than those classified as “green”. However, the total productivity over all field trials, described here as a heightsum, of “red/reddish” trees was 15% higher than productivity of “green” trees from natural stand material, and 61% higher than those from seed orchard material. It seems that controlled selection based on autumn color can be utilized within seed crops of different types with the aim to increase the adaptability of seed material to different environmental conditions.