Aspen Bibliography

The effect of some environmental factors on the growth of young Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) in controlled environments

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Canadian Journal of Botany

Volume

49

Issue

49

First Page

1443

Last Page

1453

Publication Date

1971

Abstract

Several populations (each of 32 trees) of young aspen trees (Populus tremuloides Michx) were allowed to break from dormancy in controlled environment cabinets. The rate of photosynthesis and dark respiration and the rate of carbon gain (as difference between photosynthesis and respiration) of the population as affected by photoperiod duration, light intensity, and day/night temperatures was determined by measuring the CO2 exchange of the whole population using the controlled environment cabinet as the plant chamber.The rates of photosynthesis of the plants were similar during both 12- or 18-h photoperiods. The rates of respiration during the corresponding night periods were also similar. In continuous light the photosynthetic rate remained unchanged if growth (expansion of new leaves) was rapid. During periods of slower growth, the photosynthetic rate in continuous light was reduced. In spite of this reduction in the rate of photosynthesis, carbon gain was still greatest under continuous light.In the day/night temperature study, the largest gains in carbon per day by the aspen trees were obtained at day/night temperatures of 15/10 °C or 15/15 °C. Higher day or night temperatures resulted in decreased rates of carbon gain.Increased light intensity from fluorescent lamps resulted in increased rates of photosynthesis. Addition of incandescent light to the fluorescent light resulted, in almost all cases, in decreased rates of photosynthesis. This may, in part, be due to effects on leaf temperature.Photosynthesis of the populations was usually maximal at the beginning of the photoperiod and decreased steadily during the photoperiod. The rate of decrease was directly related to the rate of photosynthesis at the beginning of the photoperiod.Both photosynthesis and respiration were affected by temperature and light but no clear relationship existed between the rate of CO2 exchange during the photoperiod and that during the nyctoperiod following.

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS