effect of soil temperature and light on sprouting and rooting of root cuttings of hybrid aspen clones

• Published in: Canadian journal of forest research Vol. 35; no. 11; pp. 2671 - 2678
• Main Authors: Stenvall, N, Haapala, T, Aarlahti, S, Pulkkinen, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.11.2005; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Artificial regeneration. Forest nurseries. Planting; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates; clones; Cuttings; Flowers & plants; Forest soils; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; High temperature; Hormones; Horticulture; hybrids; light; Low temperature; Peat; plant cuttings; plant development; Plant propagation; Populus tremula; Populus tremuloides; rooting; roots; Sand; Soil temperature; Soils; sprouting; statistical analysis; Temperature; Trees; Vegetative propagation. Micropropagation; Water content; Finland; Populus tremula; Rhizogenesis; Temperature effect; Environmental factor; Cutting(agronomy); Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Interspecific hybridization; Hardwood forest tree; Rooting; Clone; Vegetative propagation; Planting stock; Light effect; Populus tremuloides; Thermal factor; Root; Forest tree; Hybrid; Woody plant; Ecophysiology; Salicaceae; Organogenesis; Edaphic factor; Vegetative apparatus; Forestry; Spermatophyta; Shoot; Soil temperature
• ISSN: 0045-5067; 1208-6037
• DOI: 10.1139/x05-183

Root cuttings from five clones of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. x Populus tremuloides Michx.) obtained from 2-year-old stock plants were grown in a peat-sand mixture (soil) at four soil temperatures (18, 22, 26, and 30 degrees C). Half of the cuttings were grown in light and the rest in darkness. The root cuttings that were grown at the highest soil temperature sprouted and rooted significantly better than the cuttings grown at the lower temperatures. Light did not affect the sprouting of root cuttings but did have a negative effect on their rooting. Moreover, the clones varied significantly in sprouting and rooting percentages, as well as in the time required for sprouting. In general, higher soil temperatures hastened sprouting of the cuttings. Sprouting was also faster in the light than in the dark treatment. Differences in soil temperature, light conditions, or clone had no significant effect on rooting time.