Red Maple Trees Research Articles

Seasonal Variations of Foliar Nutrients in Green and Chlorotic Red Maples

Foliar samples from green and chlorotic red maple trees (Acer rubrum L.) were collected during each of three periods of the growing season, and analyzed for nutrient element concentrations. Compared to green leaf nutrient concentrations, those in chlorotic leaves were statistically different as follows: high P and K, and low Mn in late spring; high N, P, K, Fe, and Zn, and low Mn in mid-summer; high K and Mg, and low Mn in late summer. Considering lowest individual nutrient concentrations per period in green leaves as critical values, most chlorotic leaves were deficient in Mn, a few were deficient in Cu or Zn, and none was deficient in Fe. Using a similar method for identifying excesses, most chlorotic leaves contained excessive K, accompanied by excessive P in mid-summer. Chlorotic leaves with no apparent micronutrient deficiencies were excessively high in some individual or combination of macronutrients, primarily K, but consistently accompanied by P in mid-summer.

The Effects of Low‐Level Consumption by Canopy Arthropods on the Growth and Nutrient Dynamics of Black Locust and Red Maple Trees in the Southern Appalachians

The effects of low—level consumption by canopy arthropods on foliage nutrient content, canopy leachates (throughfall), and biomass of 4—yr—old black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and red maple (Acer rubrum) were studied in the southern Appalachians of North Carolina. A carbaryl insecticide was used to reduce foliage consumption from °10 to °2% in black locust and from °4 to °1% in red maple. Phosphorus concentrations in untreated black locust foliage were significantly lower than those of insecticide—treated foliage early in summer, but equalled concentrations of treated foliage by late summer. Potassium concentrations in untreated red maple foliage were significantly reduced during late summer; calcium concentrations in untreated red maple foliage were significantly higher later in the summer. Potassium in throughfall from black locus trees (amount of K collected below the canopy minus bulk precipitation inputs) increases from 5.7 kg/ha for insecticide—protected trees to 9.8 kg/ha for unprotected trees (P < .05). Potassium lossesw from unprotected red maple also increased. Black locust lost 0.3 kg/ha of sulfate—S from untreated trees, but adsorbed 0.4 kg/ha of sulfate—S in insecticide—treated trees (P < .05). Total biomass production (net primary production per kilogram of preseason biomass) was unaffected by the low levels of herbivory observed here. Such nominal herbivory did not stimulate biomass and nutrient accretion by these tree species but did increase the cycling of K and perhaps other elements within these systems.

Compartmentalization of Decay in Red Maple and Hybrid Poplar Trees

Compartmentalization of Decay in Red Maple and Hybrid Poplar Trees

Electrical resistance related to phloem width in red maple

Electrical resistances of combined bark and wood of 50 red maple (Acerrubrum L.) trees were strongly correlated with phloem width with an inverse correlation coefficient of −0.92. Diameter at 1.4 m aboveground was determined to be transitively correlated with electrical resistance through its strong correlation with phloem width. Little detectable relationship existed between electrical resistance and potassium concentration in phloem tissues. An electrical model is presented to illustrate the path of electrical current between electrodes in the tissues measured.

Gradients of Cation Concentration in Discolored and Decayed Wood of Red Maple

Eighteen columns of discolored and decayed wood associated with 2-year-old artificial wounds, and adjacent clear wood in three red maple trees, Acerrubrum L., plus six columns of clear wood in two nonwounded trees were mapped systematically for concentrations of K, Mn, Ca, Mg, and Na. Concentrations of the elements in discolored and decayed wood were higher than in adjacent clear wood in the same tree and in clear wood in the nonwounded trees. Concentration of K was highest in discolored and decayed wood near the wound and the concentration decreased toward the ends of the columns. Concentration of Mg was similar to K but the decrease in concentration toward the ends of the columns was more gradual. Concentrations of Mn and Ca were greatest at points between the wound and the ends of the columns. The different patterns of distribution between K and Mg, and Ca and Mn suggest that these elements may have different roles in the discoloration and decay process.

THE SELECTIVE ACTION OF PICLORAM IN RED MAPLE AND WHITE ASH

Summary. White ash (Fraxinus americana L.) trees, 2 years of age, treated continuously with 10 ppm picloram (4‐amino‐3,5,6‐trichloropicolinic acid) in nutrient culture were only slightly injured after 4 weeks whereas red maple (Acer rubrum L.) trees were killed after only 2 weeks treatment.When the roots were exposed to 10 ppm 14C‐picloram, the rate of root uptake, acropetal translocation in the stem, and accumulation in the leaves was much lower in the susceptible red maple than in the tolerant white ash. The foliar penetration and translocation of 14C‐picloram applied to the leaves was very slight but similar in both species. Although a radiolabelled picloram metabolite was isolated from plant extracts, it was formed at equal rates in both species.It was concluded that the tolerance of white ash was not related to lower rates of picloram uptake or faster rates of picloram detoxication. It was postulated that the high susceptibility of red maple was due to a blockage of the xylem by picloram which caused death by a dessication of the leaves and upper stems. Action sélective du piclorame sur Fraxinus amerieana L. et Acer rubrum L.

Root Growth Around Barriers

Horizontally growing root tips from red maple trees (Acer rubrum L.), when grown through a holder and then deflected laterally by a barrier, curve back toward their original direction as they grow beyond the barrier. The amount of recurvature increases as the angle of the barrier is increased up to a barrier angle of 60⚬ but decreases only slightly as barrier length is increased from 1 to 7 cm. The stimulus to recurve beyond the barrier appears to be the initial physical bending that produces asymmetry both in the root tip and in the bent portion. Comparable behavior of horizontal root tips under natural conditions tends to produce long, straight roots radiating from the stem.

Phloem Water Relations and Translocation

Satisfactory measurements of phloem water potential of trees can be obtained with the Richards and Ogata psychrometer and the vapor equilibration techniques, although corrections for loss of dry weight and for heating by respiration are required for the vapor equilibrium values. The psychrometer technique is the more satisfactory of the 2 because it requires less time for equilibration, less tissue, and less handling of tissue. Phloem water potential of a yellow-poplar tree followed a diurnal pattern quite similar to that of leaves, except that the values were higher (less negative) and changed less than in the leaves.The psychrometer technique permits a different approach to the study of translocation in trees. Measurements of water potential of phloem discs followed by freezing of samples and determination of osmotic potential allows estimation of turgor pressure in various parts of trees as the difference between osmotic potential and total water potential. This technique was used in evaluating gradients in water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor pressure in red maple trees. The expected gradients in osmotic potential were observed in the phloem, osmotic potential of the cell sap increasing (sap becoming more dilute) down the trunk. However, values of water potential were such that a gradient in turgor pressure apparently did not exist at a time when rate of translocation was expected to be high. These results do not support the mass flow theory of translocation favored by many workers.

Translocation of Herbicides and Assimilates in Red Maple and White Ash

Herbicidal dosages of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (amitrole) or 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) were applied to red-maple and white-ash trees. Amitrole applied to either leaves or stems was absorbed and transported throughout the trees. In contrast, 2,4,5-T was not exported from the leaves and did not appear to be symplastically translocated following application to stems. Leaves on similarly treated trees were exposed to 14CO2, and the effect of the herbicides on the movement of 14C-assimilates was noted. Both amitrole and 2,4,5-T caused significant transport of 14C-assimilates into the veins of fully expanded leaves from the 14CO2-treated leaf. Translocation of labeled assimilates to the roots was reduced if the 14CO2-treated leaves had been sprayed previously with either herbicide. When the 14CO2-treated leaf had not been sprayed, transport of labeled assimilates to the roots was only moderately affected by amitrole or 2,4,5-T applied to the remainder of the shoot.

Effects of Disbudding on the Shoot Mortality, Growth, and Bud Production in Red and Sugar Maples

In studies of insects boring in maple buds, the effects of bud destruction on the growth and form of trees and branches are difficult to measure because the infestations vary greatly. To determine these effects, small red maple trees, 3–4 ft tall, and branches on red and sugar maple trees, 15–18 ft tall, were disbudded at 4 intensities on May 9, 1962. Measurements made 10 months later revealed that sugar maple was very sensitive to all levels of disbudding. After complete disbudding, 70% of the 1961 and 10% of the 1960 terminal shoot growth was killed and the terminal function was not assumed by any of the adventitious shoots. In comparison with the controls, the removal of all terminal buds of sugar maple branches caused about 65% reduction in terminal shoot length; 35% in total shoot length; 45% in 1962 shoot diameter; 15% in 1961 shoot diameter; and 47% in bud production. Removal of only the distal terminal bud caused the same pattern of damage, but the growth reductions were less severe. Red maple, which was much less sensitive to disbudding than sugar maple, produced a statistically significant reduction of the measured variables only when all buds were removed. Ten percent of the 1961 terminal shoots were killed by complete disbudding and 1.5% by removal of all terminal buds. Small red maple trees and branches on large trees were very similar in their reaction to the treatments. The findings are discussed relative to recent literature on auxin production.

A Study of an Invasion by Red Maple of an Oak Woods in Southern Wisconsin

The few remaining oak woods in southern Wisconsin which have escaped disturbance by fire, grazing, or extensive cutting present an unusual opportunity for studies of successional relationships. Although maple-basswood (Acer saccharum-Tilia americana) is the climatic climax community for the westward extension of the central deciduous forest (Braun, '47), it has been noted that Indians using fires as hunting adjuncts successfully maintained a number of large areas in oak-opening and prairie disclimax until a century ago (Cottam, '49). A study of the records of the original land survey conducted in 1832-'35 has shown that most of Dane County was either oak-opening, prairie, or marsh (Ellarson, '48). Three small terminal maple forests existed in areas protected by lakes from fire driven by the prevailing southwest winds. Settlement of the region resulted both in the clearing for agricultural purposes of a major proportion of the area occupied by oak-opening and in a cessation of fire. The few remaining uncleared areas have developed into close-canopied oak forests of varying composition (Curtis and McIntosh, '51) . The stand of oak which comprises the subject of this study is located in Sections 7 and 8, T-9-N, R-8-E, in northwestern Dane County, Wis. The entire oak woods occupies roughly a half square mile and falls within a region which, at the time of the original land survey, was oak-opening (Ellarson, '48). The topography of the area is gently to moderately rolling, a result of glaciation. Nine miles to the west is a terminal moraine which marks the edge of glaciation and the beginning of the Wisconsin Driftless Area. It is believed by some investigators that after retreat of the glacier, maple and basswood spread throughout the region from a Pleistocene refuge in the Driftless Area (Braun, '47). The soil is Miami silt loam. The oak woods was studied with particular attention to several distinct areas occupied by red maple (Acer rubrum). The author would Jike to take this opportunity to express his gratitude for the constant interest and assistance provided by Prof. John T. Curtis from the time of initiation of the project to its completion. Method.-Visual inspection of the woods, particularly during fall when leaf colors are brilliant, conveys the definite impression that red maples are coming into the understory in at least five strikingly demarked areas. At -the center of each of these areas, one or more red maple trees of considerable size are to be found, and beneath these trees and for a distance around them the herbaceous and shrubby vegetation is nearly absent or extremely thin.

Vitamin B1 in Buds of Trees

LARGE quantities of vitamin B1 have been found in the buds and leaves of many common American trees by Prof. P. R. Burkholder and Prof. E. W. Sinnot. Using a constant–temperature tissue culture laboratory, they found heavy concentrations of the substance in the buds of oak, red maple, horse chestnut, elm, sycamore and white pine trees. Although vitamin B1 is now produced by synthetic chemical processes, this discovery points to a large natural source of vitamin B1, and this finding may offer a clue to the source of essential vitamins for many forest animals, according to Prof. Burkholder. The vitamin seems to be formed in the young leaves and growing points of the shoot, whence it is transported to the roots and various portions of the plant.