Growth Through Age Five of Loblolly Pine Cuttings and Seedlings Originally Matched Using Three Criteria Groups

The objective of this test was to compare rooted stem cuttings and seedlings of equivalent genetic background and initial size. Since the appropriate criterion for matching the initial size of seedlings with that of cuttings was not known, the test also examined five different criteria. Beginning December 17, 1991, dormant cuttings were rooted from 33-month-old seedling hedges that had been generated from four control-pollinated families of loblolly pine. Seven sets of seedlings were germinated at two-week intervals using the same seed lots, and were grown in tandem with the rooting of cuttings. The first set was germinated four weeks before cuttings were collected. All sets were produced in Hillsons Rootrainers containing a medium of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite that had been mixed and loaded at one time. Cuttings were rooted and seedlings were grown in the same greenhouse, although the cuttings were within a shaded polyethylene mist chamber above a root-zone heating system and the seedlings were not. Twelve weeks after rooting was initiated on cuttings, all plants were gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions. Beginning three days before the test was to be field-planted, twelve cuttings were sampled from each family of rooted cuttings, and were evaluated for five criteria: stem height, stem diameter at 1 cm above the soil, stem dry weight, root dry weight, and total dry weight. The seven seedling sets were sampled similarly.

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Author(s): Farrell C. Wise

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 1997

Section: Contributed Presentations: Extended Abstracts