The physiological and morphological quality of Pinus brutia container seedlings produced from mini-plug transplants

Abstract

The use of the mini-plug system for the production of container seedlings is relatively new, so there is little information on the potential impact of method on the quality of planting stock. The objective in this study was to evaluate the impact of mini-plug growing method on quality of Pinus brutia seedlings, and compare the performance of this stock type with that of standard container nursery stock. Seedling survival, growth and physiological status (root growth potential, shoot electrolyte leakage) were measured after pre-cultivation in mini-plugs, at the end of the first growing season in standard containers and after field transplanting. Our results showed that mini-plug transplants of P. brutia seedlings performed as well as the standard planting stock currently used in nursery operation in Greece. For the pre-cultivation of P. brutia seedlings in mini-plugs, the use of peat and a density of 2000 mini-plugs m⁻² are recommended.

Keywords:

• Root growth potential
• seedling growth
• shoot electrolyte leakage
• survival rate

Acknowledgments

This study was part of PRE-FOREST project funded by European Commission under the CRAFT FP6 (Contract No 032820). The authors would like to thank the project's partners for their collaboration and the Ministry of Rural Development & Food (Section of Forest Nurseries & Seed Production, Athens) for providing seeds.