The Effect of Interim Cold Storage on Root Growth Potential of Hot-Lifted Western Redcedar and Coastal Douglas-Fir Seedlings

Seedlings planted in the summer and early fall are still physiologically active and thus require special handling requirements to maintain quality. The effect of cold storage duration on potential seedling establishment for hot-lifted seedlings in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest is unclear. This study tested the effect of interim storage duration on hot-lifted, fall planted western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) and coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco var. menziesii) seedling quality. Root growth potential (RGP) and cold hardiness (via chlorophyll fluorescence) were used to evaluate seedling quality. Results showed that coastal Douglas-fir and western redcedar seedling quality were not compromised during 2 weeks of interim cold storage in closed boxes at 4 °C (39 °F). After 3 or 4 weeks of storage, RGP declined for both species, although the coastal Douglas-fir would still have been acceptable to plant according to current British Columbia Ministry of Forests criteria. This paper was presented at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Western Forest and Conservation Nursery Association and the Forest Nursery Association of British Columbia (Portland, OR, September 19–21, 2023).

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Author(s): Steven B. Kiiskila, Jennifer Baker, Doug Thompson, Kennedy Boateng

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 66, Number 2 (2023)

Volume: 66

Number: 2