Abstract
Elucidating the influence mechanisms of seed germination and seedling growth is important for revealing the natural regeneration of forest plantations. We collected the seeds from 58-year-old Quercus acutissima Carruth. forest, and the seeds were further divided into three classes: large, medium, and small, and sown under the forest gaps (I, 197.82 m2; II, 91.85 m2, III, understory) to observe seed germination and early seedling growth. Precipitation in the study area and soil moisture content in the forest gaps were also observed during the trial period. The results showed that the precipitation in 2019 was similar to that in 2020; both were significantly lower than the precipitation in 2021. The difference in soil water content between gaps I and II was not significant, and both were significantly lower than III. The order of seedling emergence rate in gaps was II > III > I, but the minimum was almost close to zero in I. Large and medium seeds showed significantly greater emergence rate than small seeds. The seedlings of II had higher seedling height, ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, seedling biomass, root surface area, and root volume than those of III. Large seeds had the highest ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, biomass, root mass ratio, root shoot ratio, and root surface area. Correlation analysis showed that seedling biomass was significantly and positively correlated with root surface area and root volume, and significantly and negatively correlated with specific root length and specific root surface area. The regulation of soil moisture in the gap and the adaptability related to seed size were two key factors influencing the seed germination and early seedling growth of Q. acutissima.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Precipitation was similar in 2019 and 2020, both below 2021.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“precipitation in 2019 was similar to that in 2020; both were significantly lower than the precipitation in 2021”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil water content did not differ significantly between gaps I and II; both were lower than gap III.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“soil water content between gaps I and II was not significant, and both were significantly lower than III”
Claim · model-written summary
Seedling emergence ranked gap II above III above I, with gap I nearly zero.
- Outcome
- seedling emergence ratee0
- Direction
- II > III > Ie0
- Qualifier
- almost close to zero in Ie0
- Setting
- gapse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The order of seedling emergence rate in gaps was II > III > I, but the minimum was almost close to zero in I.”
Claim · model-written summary
Large seeds had higher emergence than small seeds.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Large and medium seeds showed significantly greater emergence rate than small seeds.”
Claim · model-written summary
Medium seeds had higher emergence than small seeds.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Large and medium seeds showed significantly greater emergence rate than small seeds.”
Claim · model-written summary
Gap II seedlings exceeded gap III seedlings in height, ground diameter, and diameter growth rate.
- Outcome
- seedling height, ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth ratee0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- IIIe0
- Setting
- IIe0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The seedlings of II had higher seedling height, ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, seedling biomass, root surface area, and root volume than those of III.”
Claim · model-written summary
Gap II seedlings exceeded gap III in biomass, root surface area, and root volume.
- Outcome
- seedling biomass, root surface area, and root volumee0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- IIIe0
- Setting
- IIe0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The seedlings of II had higher seedling height, ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, seedling biomass, root surface area, and root volume than those of III.”
Claim · model-written summary
Large seeds produced the highest ground diameter, diameter growth rate, and biomass.
- Material
- Large seedse0
- Outcome
- ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, biomasse0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Large seeds had the highest ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, biomass, root mass ratio, root shoot ratio, and root surface area.”
Claim · model-written summary
Large seeds produced the highest root mass ratio, root shoot ratio, and root surface area.
- Material
- Large seedse0
- Outcome
- root mass ratio, root shoot ratio, and root surface areae0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Large seeds had the highest ground diameter, ground diameter relative growth rate, biomass, root mass ratio, root shoot ratio, and root surface area.”
Claim · model-written summary
Seedling biomass correlated positively with root surface area and volume.
- Organ / stage
- root surface area and root volumee0
- Outcome
- seedling biomasse0
- Direction
- positively correlatede0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“seedling biomass was significantly and positively correlated with root surface area and root volume”
Claim · model-written summary
Seedling biomass correlated negatively with specific root length and surface area.
- Organ / stage
- specific root length and specific root surface areae0
- Outcome
- seedling biomasse0
- Direction
- negatively correlatede0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Correlation analysis showed that seedling biomass was significantly and positively correlated with root surface area and root volume, and significantly and negatively correlated with specific root length and specific root surface area.”