Freezing Temperatures in the Root Zone-Effects on Growth of Containerized Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies Seedlings

Roots of 1-year-old containerized seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were experimentally frozen in December. The seedlings were then grown for 3 weeks in a growth chamber and evaluated with regard to root growth capacity (RGC) and shoot elongation. The subsequent RGC of Scots pine declined as root zone temperatures were lowered from -6 degrees C to -11 degrees C and from -11 degrees C to -16 degrees C. Almost no root growth was observed after exposure to -20 degrees C. Shoot growth was also negatively affected by low root temperatures but less than root growth. Low root temperatures did not affect Norway spruce as much as Scots pine, although root and shoot growth of Norway spruce were reduced after exposure to the lowest test temperatures (-16 degrees C and -20 degrees C). The length of exposure, ranging between 1 and 8 hours had no effect on subsequent growth.