Seasonal changes in carbohydrate storage and regrowth in rhizomes and stems of four boreal forest shrubs: applications in Picea glauca understorey regeneration
1997
Landhaeusser, S.M. | Lieffers, V.J. (Alberta Univ., Edmonton (Canada). Dept. of Renewable Resources)
Understorey scarification methods are used to enhance regeneration of Picea glauca; however, understorey shrubs have been identified as major competitors for regenerating tree species. To investigate the resprouting potential of rhizomes of four boreal forest shrub species in the understorey, rhizome segments (30, 15, and 10 cm in length) of Corylus cornuta, Cornus stolonifera, Rosa acicularis, and Viburnum edule were planted in five boreal mixed-wood sites in northern Alberta at four times during the 1994 growing season. Sugar and starch concentrations in rhizome and stem pieces of these shrubs and Epilobium angustifolium were determined for each date. The segments and their regrowth were excavated in the autumn of 1995. Rhizome length had no effect on regrowth but there was a marked increase in regrowth for segments planted late in the growing season. The cryptophyte, E. angustifolium, accumulated large amounts of carbohydrates during the growing season, i.e. 28% of dry weight compared with 6-14% of dry weight for the phanerophytic shrubs. All four shrubs had lowest regrowth when total non-structural carbohyddrate concentrations were at their lowest levels.
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