Effects of various stress treatments on growth and ethylene evolution in seedlings and sprouts of betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine growth and ethylene evolution in seedlings and coppiced plants of Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh. when subjected to stresses relevant to the maintenance of natural forests, and especially in fuelwood plantations, i.e. cutting of the stem, thinning, bending, flooding and various combinations of these. Most of the experiments were carried out in the laboratory using 1‐year‐old seedlings or 1‐month‐old sprouts. Height and diameter growth, biomass production, morphology and ethylene evolution were studied for 1–2 months. Material for comparison was obtained from young sprouts on the stumps of fully developed trees growing under natural conditions and natural seedlings of a comparable age. Exposure of seedlings and coppiced plants to stress factors usually altered growth and increased ethylene evolution. Cutting of the stem and thinning had similar effects in that they stimulated transient ethylene evolution by both roots and stems. Bending retarded the height growth to some extent, while increasing the ethylene content especially on the lower side of the horizontal stem. Flooding arrested height growth and increased ethylene evolution in the roots. The two species reacted basically in similar ways, but B. pendula produced more ethylene. though at a slower rate, and also showed a more pronounced retardation of growth. The sprouts had a higher ethylene content than the seedlings and also increased their ethylene evolution more rapidly. The changes in ethylene evolution and growth are discussed from the point of view of the resilience of the plants and as an indication of stress factors in experimental plots.

Key words:

• stress
• ethylene
• sprouts
• seedlings
• Betula pendula
• B. pubescens