Yale University

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511


School of Forestry and Environmental Studies THE EFFECT OF ROOTS® ON SURVIVAL AND ROOT REGENERATION OF LOBLOLLY PINE (Pinus taeda) SEEDLINGS AFTER COLD STORAGE AND TRANSPLANTING Ricardo 0. Russo, Ph.D. INTRODUCTION A greenhouse stress test was performed at the Yale School of Forestry, New Haven, CT to evaluate the effects of ROOTS®, Root Growth Enhancer, a new root growth biostimulant, on the survival and root regeneration of loblolly pine seedlings following transplanting. MATERIALS AND METHODS In November 1988, forty eight (48) one year old loblolly pine seedlings were harvested from a commercial forestry nursery (Buckeye Cellulose Corporation) and placed in cold storage (5°C.) at the Yale School of Forestry. In June 1989, all were transplanted to 3/4 gallon pots, one seedling per pot. Twenty four seedlings were treated at time of transplant with 200 ml of a 1% solution of ROOTS® (1:100 by volume so that each seedling received 2 ml of ROOTS® concentrate) and twenty four seedlings received only tap water, acting as the control. After fourteen weeks the seedlings were harvested. Comparative survival analysis was made for the treated and untreated samples. The increase in shoot and root dry weight values from time of transplant to time of harvest were calculated. This difference is defined as “regrowth.” Data were analyzed with Statview II for analysis of variance. RESULTS Fourteen weeks after transplanting 100% (24) of the treated seedlings had survived, while 83% (20) of untreated seedlings survived. In all cases, the treated seedlings experienced significant growth improvement compared to the untreated control seedlings. Shoot regrowth (dry weight) was 83% higher in treated seedlings, and root regrowth (dry weight) was 43% higher in the treated seedlings. The substantial increase in both shoot and root dry weight values indicate that the ROOTS® biostimulant may be an effective growth enhancement product for transplanting situations.