Effects of Five Antitranspirants on White Spruce and White Pine Seedlings Subjected to Greenhouse Drought

Five film-forming antitranspirants (Cloud Cover, X2-1337, Plantco, Vapor Gard, and Wilt Pruf) were applied to containerized white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss) a. white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedlings transplanted into pots in the greenhouse. After 28 days without water the survival, level of foliar damage, height growth, and biomass were recorded for each seedling. Although many of the differences were not statistically significant, seedlings treated with Wilt Pruf had the most favorable seedling characteristics: high survival rate, low levels of foliar damage (needle browning or tip death), and high biomass in combination with moderate height growth. Seedlings treated with Vapor Gard had a high survival rate but showed variation in accumulated biomass and height growth with high levels of foliar damage. Treatment with X2-1337 and Plantco resulted in greater height growth but low biomass (suggesting a poorer root/shoot ratio) and variable effects on survival and foliage. Treatment of white spruce or white pine seedlings treated with Cloud Cover was not effective, and the seedlings responded in a similar fashion to those not treated. Tree Planters' Notes 41(l):34-38* 199f)

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Author(s): Peter A. Williams, Andrew M. Gordon, Art W. Moeller

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volumes 41, Number 1 (1990)

Section: General

Volume: 41

Number: 1