Evaluating Seedling Quality by Determining Their Water Status A Test on a Series of Cold-stored Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies Seedlings

Seedlings of Pinus sylvestris (L.) and Picea abies (L.) Karst, were lifted on different occasions in autumn and cold-stored throughout winter. In spring, in connection with planting, needle conductance (g(n)), plant water conductance (G(p)) and needle water potential (psi(n)) of a sample of seedlings were measured under controlled climatic conditions in a growth chamber. It was found that measurements of g(n) and G(p) made after 4 days in the growth chamber correlated with the relative number of severely damaged or dead seedlings after one summer in the field. psi(n). however, had little prognostic value. It is proposed that the measurements of g(n) and G(p) may be suitable as a means of assessing seedling quality and of predicting field performance.