The Dependence of <i>Quercus robur</i> and <i>Q. petraea</i> Seeding on Cotyledon Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Phosphorus during the First Year of Growth

Abstract

Acorns collected from a range of Quercus robur L. and Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. populations were germinated and grown in an unheated greenhouse using a standard commercial compost. Total seedling dry weight did not increase until the end of the growing season, with Q. robur and Q. petraea seedlings showing mean dry weight increases of 211 per cent and 414 per cent respectively. Oak seedlings appear to depend upon cotyledon reserves of carbohydrate, P, K and Mg during most of the first year of growth, but rely on external sources of Ca. Seedlings become independent of the cotyledons at the end of the first growing season.