Journal
PLANT AND SOIL
Volume 315, Issue 1-2, Pages 229-240Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11104-008-9746-6
Keywords
Desiccation; Electrolyte leakage; Gas exchange; Hydrogel; Moisture content; Northern red oak; Stem water potential
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Root hydrogel, a hydrophilic polymer, has been used to improve transplanting success of bare-root conifer seedlings through effects on water holding capacity. We examined mechanisms by which Terra-sorb (R) Fine Hydrogel reduces damage that occurs when roots of 1-year old, dormant northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) were subjected to short-term (1, 3, and 5 h) pre-transplanting desiccation and long-term (45 days) drought stress following transplanting in a controlled environment chamber or greenhouse conditions. Hydrogel-treated seedlings had 80% greater root moisture content than non-root dipped control seedlings following the pre-transplanting desiccation period. Hydrogel reduced root membrane leakiness by 31% 5 h after the desiccation exposure. Hydrogel-treated seedlings did not show greater differences in shoot length, plant dry mass, root volume, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance compared with control seedlings following the 45-day drought stress exposure. A reduction in mean number of days to bud break in hydrogel-treated seedlings, combined with delayed tissue moisture loss (linked to higher stem water potential), suggests that hydrogel may have provided stress protection to aid survival under short-term desiccation, which may be beneficial toward alleviating initial transplanting stress.
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