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- Title
Photosynthetic and morphological responses of white birch, balsam poplar, and trembling aspen to freezing and artificial defoliation.
- Authors
Rongzhou Man; Pengxin Lu; Colombo, Steve; Junlin Li; Qing-Lai Dang
- Abstract
Comparative stress resistance of 1-year-old white birch ( Betula papyrifera Marsh.), balsam poplar ( Populus balsamifera L.), and trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) seedlings was evaluated after exposure to freezing or defoliation. Photosynthesis in leaves surviving freezing (−5 °C) declined immediately after treatment, but nearly fully recovered within 3 weeks. Defoliation did not significantly increase photosynthesis in the remaining leaves. Refoliation occurred after freezing that killed terminal shoots and released current buds from apical dominance, while new leaves of larger size were produced through continuous growth of terminal shoots in 50% or 100% defoliation. Freezing and complete defoliation significantly reduced diameter and height growth in all species, whereas 50% defoliation did not affect growth. These results indicate some of the physiological and morphological responses to foliage loss in broadleaved boreal species that can help to maintain growth and productivity under a warming climate, which may result in more frequent damaging spring frosts and insect defoliation.
- Subjects
BALSAM poplar; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; POPULUS tremuloides; DEFOLIATION; COMPARATIVE studies; LEAF morphology
- Publication
Botany, 2013, Vol 91, Issue 6, p343
- ISSN
1916-2790
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/cjb-2012-0287