NATURAL ADVENTITIOUS ROOT FORMATION OF PICEA ABIES SEEDLINGS IN MOUNTAIN FORESTS: SHORT COMMUNICATION

Stem burial and adventitious root formation of Picea abies in the mountain forest of Central Europe were assessed. Thirty seedlings of height between 15 and 30 cm (15 on soil and 15 on deadwood) were randomly chosen and excavated. The number of terminal bud scars was counted on the aboveground and belowground parts of the stem. The number of basic branches of adventitious roots was significantly higher for seedlings naturally regenerating on soil as opposed to seedlings regenerating on deadwood. The belowground stem/total stem length ratio was significantly higher for seedlings naturally regenerating on soil when compared to the seedlings regenerating on deadwood. The number of bud scars on the aboveground stem was significantly different between the two microsite types. The height/aboveground terminal bud scars ratio for seedlings naturally regenerating on soil was significantly greater than for those regenerating on deadwood. Our preliminary results suggest that substrate type has an impact on the stem burial and adventitious root formation, which is important for shade tolerance. In addition, it affects the age estimation. We report that the rooting behaviour of Picea abies varies between the different rooting microsite types in the montane forest of Central Europe.