Effects of Forest Gap and Seed Size on Germination and Early Seedling Growth in Quercus acutissima Plantation in Mount Tai, China

Research on Mount Taishan reveals that soil moisture regulation in forest gaps and seed size adaptability are critical factors influencing the germination and early growth of Quercus acutissima seedlings. The study found that larger seeds exhibit significantly higher emergence rates, ground diameter, biomass, and root development compared to smaller seeds. Seedlings in gap II demonstrated superior growth metrics than those under the understory (gap III), with precipitation and soil moisture playing pivotal roles in these outcomes. Correlation analysis highlighted strong positive relationships between seedling biomass and root surface area/volume, while negative correlations were observed with specific root length and surface area. These findings underscore the importance of environmental conditions and genetic traits in natural forest regeneration.

Mao, P., Kan, X., Pang, Y., Ni, R., Cao, B., Wang, K., Zhang, J., Tan, C., Geng, Y., Cao, X., Wang, S., Gao, P., & Dong, J. (2022). Effects of Forest Gap and Seed Size on Germination and Early Seedling Growth in Quercus acutissima Plantation in Mount Tai, China. Forests, 13(7), 1025. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071025