An aging American population may be less willing than a younger population to install and remove ... more An aging American population may be less willing than a younger population to install and remove a live, fresh-cut evergreen tree in their home for Christmas celebrations. An alternative to using traditional, large, fresh-cut or potted Christmas trees could be forcing these evergreen species in a small (≈1-L) container that could be displayed on a tabletop. We initiated this study to determine consumer preferences and marketability for six evergreen tree species produced for tabletop display and used three decoration themes and three price points. We constructed a web-based survey in which 331 participants were compensated with a $5 e-coupon for viewing 27 photographs of tabletop trees and providing preference and use information. The conjoint model accounted for 91.2% of the variance and showed that consumers valued tree species as the most important attribute (61% of the tree value), with decoration color/theme the second most important feature (27%) and, last, price (12%). Black ...
We assessed variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and needle chlorophyll concentration of see... more We assessed variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and needle chlorophyll concentration of seedlings of Maccedonia fir (Abies borisii regis Mattfeld), subalpine fir [A. lasiocarpa (Hooker) Nuttall], Sakhalin fir [A. sachalinensis (Schmidt) Mast.], Siberian fir [A. sibirica (Lebed.)], and Veitch fir (A. veitchii Lindl.) grown under varying soil media pH. Soil media pH was modified using liquid flowable dolomitic limestone, resulting in five pH levels (3.4, 4.0, 5.4, 6.0, and 6.8). Increasing media pH significantly reduced Fv/Fm and needle chlorophyll concentration in all of the species tested. The effect of pH on photochemistry was due to depressed nutrient uptake of P, Mn, B, and Cu. Because photosynthetic quantum yield may be related to deficiencies of several elements affected by pH, Fv/Fm may serve as a criterion to select for improved pH tolerance. Among the species examined, A. veitchii and A. lasiocarpa were most tolerant of increased pH based on Fv/Fm and needle chlorophyl...
Seventeen Abies species were evaluated for budbreak and frost injury at four locations in Michiga... more Seventeen Abies species were evaluated for budbreak and frost injury at four locations in Michigan. Freeze tests were conducted on four species growing at the Horticulture Teaching and Research Center to determine cold hardiness levels during winter. Species differed (P ≤ 0.0001) in their days to budbreak at all locations. Trees that had broken bud were more prone to late spring frost damage than trees yet to break bud. Species differed in chlorophyll fluorescence, bud damage, and needle damage after exposure to –44 °C. Bud, foliar, and cambium damage were correlated with chlorophyll fluorescence following freeze tests. Budbreak and midwinter cold hardiness were correlated. Species breaking bud earlier displayed greater midwinter cold hardiness than species breaking bud later. Selection criteria for future Abies introductions to the upper midwestern U.S. should include identifying species with late budbreak to reduce risk of late frost injury.
Conifers represent a sizeable portion of nursery and landscape sales in the upper midwestern U.S.... more Conifers represent a sizeable portion of nursery and landscape sales in the upper midwestern U.S. Several conifer species have been overplanted to the point where disease problems and insect pressures have developed. Although more than 40 true fir (Abies Mill.) exist throughout the northern hemisphere, use of firs in the landscape and Christmas tree industry has been limited to relatively few species. This is largely due to perceived intolerance of many site conditions. However, recent research suggests Abies are more tolerant of varying site conditions than originally thought. Successful introduction of new exotic fir species for landscape use will require a systematic approach to identify species that are adapted to environmental stresses. In this article we review the extent and nature of inter-specific variation among Abies species in traits commonly associated with tolerance of stresses found in the upper midwestern U.S. Specifically, we focus on cold hardiness, budbreak, photo...
Tabletop Christmas tree growers whose greenhouse-grown conifers have undesirable shoot growth may... more Tabletop Christmas tree growers whose greenhouse-grown conifers have undesirable shoot growth may alleviate this problem by applying plant growth retardants (PGRs). Some of the most common PGRs in the horticulture industry were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in controlling plant height: ancymidol at 100 μL·L-1 (ppm), daminozide at 5000 μL·L-1, paclobutrazol at 60 μL·L-1, chlormequat at 1500 μL·L-1, uniconazole at 15 μL·L-1, and ethephon at 500 μL·L-1 compared to a nontreated control. The following conifer species were used: colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), black hills spruce (P. glauca var. densata), serbian spruce (P. omorika), noble fir (Abies procera), grand fir (A. grandis), fraser fir (A. fraseri), concolor fir (A. concolor), arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), port orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), and douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Chlormequat was the only PGR that caused phytotoxicity and damage to the foliage was minimal. Noble fir, douglas-fir, c...
Excessive tree wounding is a common concern regarding the use of trunk injection technology for t... more Excessive tree wounding is a common concern regarding the use of trunk injection technology for tree protection purposes in landscapes and urban greening. We investigated the rate of healing of injection ports (points) in apple trees by monitoring parameters such as port diameters, the size of bark cracking, and port depths. We compared drilled injection ports from 4.4 and 9.5 mm drill bits, with latter being sealed with plastic-silicone plug (Arborplug®) or not, and the lenticular port from a double-edged blade. Depending on port size and type, port closure ranged from one to more than two years. Bark cracking around injection ports was more pronounced longitudinally. On the sealed 9.5 mm port, bark cracking was largely similar to all drilled ports. The depth of port wounds decreased faster on the port from the 4.4 mm drill bit and on lenticular injection port versus the unsealed port from the 9.5 mm drill bit. Plastic-silicone plugs, which simulate removed bark, slowed the healing of 9.5 mm drill port with callus and increased the port depths over time due to callus formation over the top of the plug. From fastest-healing to slowest-healing, on average the injection ports were: lenticular port from blade (70.8%), the unsealed 9.5 mm drill port (44.4%), 4.4 mm drill port (43.9%), and 9.5 mm drill port sealed with plastic-silicone plug (20.4%).
An aging American population may be less willing than a younger population to install and remove ... more An aging American population may be less willing than a younger population to install and remove a live, fresh-cut evergreen tree in their home for Christmas celebrations. An alternative to using traditional, large, fresh-cut or potted Christmas trees could be forcing these evergreen species in a small (≈1-L) container that could be displayed on a tabletop. We initiated this study to determine consumer preferences and marketability for six evergreen tree species produced for tabletop display and used three decoration themes and three price points. We constructed a web-based survey in which 331 participants were compensated with a $5 e-coupon for viewing 27 photographs of tabletop trees and providing preference and use information. The conjoint model accounted for 91.2% of the variance and showed that consumers valued tree species as the most important attribute (61% of the tree value), with decoration color/theme the second most important feature (27%) and, last, price (12%). Black ...
We assessed variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and needle chlorophyll concentration of see... more We assessed variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and needle chlorophyll concentration of seedlings of Maccedonia fir (Abies borisii regis Mattfeld), subalpine fir [A. lasiocarpa (Hooker) Nuttall], Sakhalin fir [A. sachalinensis (Schmidt) Mast.], Siberian fir [A. sibirica (Lebed.)], and Veitch fir (A. veitchii Lindl.) grown under varying soil media pH. Soil media pH was modified using liquid flowable dolomitic limestone, resulting in five pH levels (3.4, 4.0, 5.4, 6.0, and 6.8). Increasing media pH significantly reduced Fv/Fm and needle chlorophyll concentration in all of the species tested. The effect of pH on photochemistry was due to depressed nutrient uptake of P, Mn, B, and Cu. Because photosynthetic quantum yield may be related to deficiencies of several elements affected by pH, Fv/Fm may serve as a criterion to select for improved pH tolerance. Among the species examined, A. veitchii and A. lasiocarpa were most tolerant of increased pH based on Fv/Fm and needle chlorophyl...
Seventeen Abies species were evaluated for budbreak and frost injury at four locations in Michiga... more Seventeen Abies species were evaluated for budbreak and frost injury at four locations in Michigan. Freeze tests were conducted on four species growing at the Horticulture Teaching and Research Center to determine cold hardiness levels during winter. Species differed (P ≤ 0.0001) in their days to budbreak at all locations. Trees that had broken bud were more prone to late spring frost damage than trees yet to break bud. Species differed in chlorophyll fluorescence, bud damage, and needle damage after exposure to –44 °C. Bud, foliar, and cambium damage were correlated with chlorophyll fluorescence following freeze tests. Budbreak and midwinter cold hardiness were correlated. Species breaking bud earlier displayed greater midwinter cold hardiness than species breaking bud later. Selection criteria for future Abies introductions to the upper midwestern U.S. should include identifying species with late budbreak to reduce risk of late frost injury.
Conifers represent a sizeable portion of nursery and landscape sales in the upper midwestern U.S.... more Conifers represent a sizeable portion of nursery and landscape sales in the upper midwestern U.S. Several conifer species have been overplanted to the point where disease problems and insect pressures have developed. Although more than 40 true fir (Abies Mill.) exist throughout the northern hemisphere, use of firs in the landscape and Christmas tree industry has been limited to relatively few species. This is largely due to perceived intolerance of many site conditions. However, recent research suggests Abies are more tolerant of varying site conditions than originally thought. Successful introduction of new exotic fir species for landscape use will require a systematic approach to identify species that are adapted to environmental stresses. In this article we review the extent and nature of inter-specific variation among Abies species in traits commonly associated with tolerance of stresses found in the upper midwestern U.S. Specifically, we focus on cold hardiness, budbreak, photo...
Tabletop Christmas tree growers whose greenhouse-grown conifers have undesirable shoot growth may... more Tabletop Christmas tree growers whose greenhouse-grown conifers have undesirable shoot growth may alleviate this problem by applying plant growth retardants (PGRs). Some of the most common PGRs in the horticulture industry were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in controlling plant height: ancymidol at 100 μL·L-1 (ppm), daminozide at 5000 μL·L-1, paclobutrazol at 60 μL·L-1, chlormequat at 1500 μL·L-1, uniconazole at 15 μL·L-1, and ethephon at 500 μL·L-1 compared to a nontreated control. The following conifer species were used: colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), black hills spruce (P. glauca var. densata), serbian spruce (P. omorika), noble fir (Abies procera), grand fir (A. grandis), fraser fir (A. fraseri), concolor fir (A. concolor), arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), port orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), and douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Chlormequat was the only PGR that caused phytotoxicity and damage to the foliage was minimal. Noble fir, douglas-fir, c...
Excessive tree wounding is a common concern regarding the use of trunk injection technology for t... more Excessive tree wounding is a common concern regarding the use of trunk injection technology for tree protection purposes in landscapes and urban greening. We investigated the rate of healing of injection ports (points) in apple trees by monitoring parameters such as port diameters, the size of bark cracking, and port depths. We compared drilled injection ports from 4.4 and 9.5 mm drill bits, with latter being sealed with plastic-silicone plug (Arborplug®) or not, and the lenticular port from a double-edged blade. Depending on port size and type, port closure ranged from one to more than two years. Bark cracking around injection ports was more pronounced longitudinally. On the sealed 9.5 mm port, bark cracking was largely similar to all drilled ports. The depth of port wounds decreased faster on the port from the 4.4 mm drill bit and on lenticular injection port versus the unsealed port from the 9.5 mm drill bit. Plastic-silicone plugs, which simulate removed bark, slowed the healing of 9.5 mm drill port with callus and increased the port depths over time due to callus formation over the top of the plug. From fastest-healing to slowest-healing, on average the injection ports were: lenticular port from blade (70.8%), the unsealed 9.5 mm drill port (44.4%), 4.4 mm drill port (43.9%), and 9.5 mm drill port sealed with plastic-silicone plug (20.4%).
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